She is 3 years old, so this is of course a primary tooth (the left upper front tooth). She fell and hit her tooth on the wood floor. It bled a very little bit at the gum line, and she was comforted by holding an ice pack to her mouth. She cried for quite some time afterward, and needed ibuprofen the next morning for pain. I really haven't thought about it since, but just tonight I noticed when she laughed that it's a little bluish-gray. I guess I should get her to a dentist...???
2007-02-19 12:55:20 · 13 answers · asked by Jules 2 in Health ➔ Dental
The fall occurred about 2 weeks ago.
2007-02-19 12:56:07 · update #1
Many answers above are correct, but I think toplesbabe is the one that I agree with the most.
A baby tooth can darken considerably without the nerve being dead. The dentin inside the tooth is VERY porous and it will actually absorb some blood from inside the tooth after a trauma. This then turns dark like any clot and this is where the dark color comes from. Most of the time, it is only a cosmetic problem and you can ignore it. Keep an eye on the gums up above that tooth, though. Lift up her lip every once in a while and see if there is a yellow or red bump forming. This means the tooth is abscessed and needs treatment by a dentist to avoid damage to the permanent tooth. Of course, any complaint of pain is a sign that your daughter needs attention also. Without these signs, there is no need to do anything about the tooth just because it is darkened.
As toplesbabe said, if there was any damage done to the permanent tooth, it was done in the instant of the bump and you can't undo that. You'll just have to wait until the tooth comes in and deal with that once you can see it.
If the tooth hangs in there long enough that it is going to show in school pictures, you have a decision to make. You could just leave it alone so you would all be able to look back and laugh at the reality that her tooth was dark or you could see about getting it covered with some bonding material. I would not otherwise suggest this, especially at age 3, because the bonding chemistry is not very good at sticking things to baby teeth. The bonding material might only stay for a few days, believe it or not. You could have this done a day or two prior to school pictures and then just don't worry about it if it comes off.
2007-02-19 15:56:18 · answer #1 · answered by Picture Taker 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everyone is right, the dark colour of the tooth indicates it is dead. It can how ever still become abcessed and effect the perm tooth forming under it. At the age of 3 she is ready for her 1st dental visit. Take her for a cleaning and check-up and ask the doctor to look at it then, it will save you some money and an extra trip. The lack of treatment at the time of the accident didn't kill the tooth, it would have died anyways, so don't kick yourself. Don't try to explain anything to your daughter yourself, let the dental team do it, they have experience in these things. Good Luck
2007-02-19 13:28:08 · answer #2 · answered by toplesbabe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't panic! It's perfectly normal, its just her baby teeth coming out, she'll grow her adult teeth very soon! As a tip, try to play gentle games in future, pulling on ropes etc is great for their fitness etc but there may be damage done to the roots of the following teeth and that would cause problems. When she wants to really tug and play war ha ha, just let her win a few times, it'll be less stressful on her little gums and teeth. All the best.
2016-05-24 18:21:34 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason for the discoloration is that the tooth was traumatized. Since its a primary tooth, she will be fine, but as soon as her adult teeth come out try to take her to the dentist for fluoride treatments, so her teeth can become stronger. But take her to the dentist, so the dentist can explain more in detail.
2007-02-19 13:53:51 · answer #4 · answered by cupidkiller 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same thing happened to my son at the age of 2 and my dentist said that from the impact of the fall it killed the tooth, that is why it is discolored but not to worry unless I start seeing little white pimple like blisters on the gum line.
The good news is that this does not efffect their permanent teeth. :)
2007-02-19 17:01:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anita G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call a dentist and take her in. The tooth sounds damaged and may need to looked at.Of course at 3, it's a baby tooth,but it may affect her permanet teeth,by decaying below the gum line.good luck.
2007-02-19 13:01:28 · answer #6 · answered by karen b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you do want to get that checked out just in case, but if it falls out that won't be a very big deal. Since your little girl is only 3, that tooth will be coming out anyways. So don't stress too much she'll be fine!
2007-02-19 13:00:46 · answer #7 · answered by Naomi J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For sure it's better to get he to a doctor, but my sister had the same event and her tooth is still darker than others, and it never falls out. and still works as a good tooth
2007-02-19 13:00:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
absolutely, chances are she killed the tooth with the fall, because it is a baby tooth the second teeth should be ok, but to be safe take her to the dentist.
2007-02-19 12:58:15 · answer #9 · answered by fluffyflo_1999 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its going to turn into a 'dead' tooth and have to be pulled. Go to the dentist.
2007-02-19 12:58:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋