Chipped Tooth

Updated on February 11, 2009
M.C. asks from San Diego, CA
14 answers

My 18 month old daughter fell and chipped her front tooth. She fell on her glider chair right behind me and immediately got a "goose egg" on her forehead. I was so concerned about her head I didn't think to check anywhere else. She never bleed and I didn't even notice it until the next day. However, I'm wondering if I should take her to the dentist? Is there anything they can do? Thanks in advance for your help!

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S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

It's probably fine. You shouldn't need to see a dentist unless it starts to discolor. I don't know how bad the chip is, but it's possible they could bond onto it. This might be an option if this tooth is sharp now. We went through this with my littlest one. It was a pretty bad chip and and it this age appeared to be half her tooth. They bonded onto it and it stayed for several years and came off. At that point it was just a corner of the tooth as more of it had come down from the gum. They bonded on it again, but it didn't take. We gave up. After a few years, it started to discolor and they had to do a root canal. She is 6 and we're anxiously awaiting this discolored snaggle tooth to fall out! Good luck.

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M.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

My now almost 6 year old son chipped his tooth when he was three. It broke off vertically which means he still had his whole tooth but only the back side. (We took him to the dentist to make sure the nerve wasn't exposed. We were told he'll be o.k. It's a baby tooth that eventually will fall out.

However about one year later the tooth began to change color from white to dark yellow. There still was nothing wrong with the tooth but for cosmetic reasons we let the dentist fill the tooth inn to make it look nice. The filling is not permanent though and you'll have to replace it every so often.

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J.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

my daughter fell and face planted into carpet and chipped her front tooth. i also didnt notice till the next day. what i did was gave her teething tablets incase it hurt her. i also looked for any discoloration. when she saw her dentist at 19 months she said everything was fine and it looked like just the edge was damaged. she offered to file it down but i didnt do it because it didnt seem to bother my daughter and she was screaming her head off. i wouldnt worry about it unless it hurts her or it becomes discolored. but if your worried then take her into the dentist. good luck!

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

If the chipped area is sharp, the tooth is discolored or loose or if it is causing her pain you need to see a dentist for sure. If the chip isn't too bad and you don't see any discoloration it might not be as crutial to take her in. My son chipped a front tooth when he was around 2 years old chasing around a friend at the zoo and stumbled and fell. It was pretty sharp so they gently sanded it smooth and told me to watch it for something like a week to see if any discoloration or pain delevoped (sign of a damaged nerve) or if it started to become loose. It never did any of those things thankfully and when he got older they leveled out that tooth with the one next to it to cosmetically look a bit better. But I always say, if you're worried it's best to bring them in then to keep worrying.

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M.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

My oldest son has chipped 3 teeth and my youngest has chipped 2 so I feel I have much experience in this area! I think that you should take your child to the dentist. The dentist will check to see if it is loose or there was any major damage. Also, my boys used a pacifier/sucked thumb so it was important that the tooth(teeth) be sanded down so they wouldn't cause more damage.

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M.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Absolutly, take her to the dentist. Just to be sure.
Good luck!

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J.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

This happened to my son when he turned about 2. He was rough housing with his brother and I noticed his front tooth was chipped. He didn't even cry!

I would definitely call a pedontist (pediatric dentist). If there is a black spot on the tooth or above it, there is an abcess and it will likely need to be removed. But it's better to have an expert diagnose to be sure. My son was lucky in that the chip isn't deep enough to affect the root, but it is pretty noticeable. We just need to watch it to be sure he doesn't cause more trauma to it, and wait for it to fall out normally (when his adult teeth come in).

Good luck!

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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

Take her to a children's dentist. My daughter fell when she was 10 months and I thought she broke the teeth off, but they actually went inside the gum. I took her to the ER because her lip bleed so much and they told me to take her to the dentist and said the teeth were still there. They came back out after a few months. If the tooth discolors they will end up pulling it, but so far so good.

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S.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Same thing just happened to my nephew of approx the same age. My sister took him to two pediatric dentists because the chip was his front tooth and severe (and sharp to the touch). She was worried about him cutting his lip. One dentist wanted to put a crown on it which would be too traumatic. The second dentist, who saw him over a month later, noticed it abcessed and pulled it immediately. He looks a little tough but cute as ever. So it depends on how severe the chip is... It may be something to just leave alone.

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L.F.

answers from San Diego on

You should take her to the dentist. My son injured his teeth and ended up with short roots which may affect them later. Also, being chipped it may be more likely to get cavities. See your dentist, they may not do anything right now, but they can take xrays and keep an eye on it.

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R.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would take her to the dentist just to make sure there isn't any permanent damage. My 4 year old fell at preschool and apparently "scraped" his front teeth on the asphalt. It looked as though he may have cracked his tooth, so I took him in to be sure, and his dentist x-rayed him. There were no problems, but she did end up filing down the teeth to make them look better. Your dentist can probably do the same for your daughter too. It will not only look better, but there would be less chance of her hurting herself because her chipped tooth could be sharp...just a thought! If it were me, I would want to be safe, rather than sorry. Good luck!

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M.T.

answers from San Diego on

My son chipped his front tooth when he was just over 2 yr. old on a table. I don't think there is much the dentist can do because it is their baby teeth. They will be loosing them anyway. It sucks, but you do get used to looking at it.
Good luck!

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S.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

MC, My daughter chipped her tooth when she was about the same age. I took her to the dentist for n xray to ensure that her nerve wasn't exposed. They also told me what to look for if the tooth happens to go dead, I guess it turns gray.

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S.A.

answers from Honolulu on

If the tooth doesn't bother her (i.e. cuts into her lip or something), and if it doesn't affect the way she eats, then she should be fine, I think. Maybe just mention it at her next doctor's appointment to see what he/she thinks.

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