If your child loses or chips a tooth, don’t panic. There are plenty of solutions for it.
Kids are little explorers – they always love testing their environment and limits through play, and sometimes they play rough. Getting hurt is inevitable, and small bruises and scratches serve as proof of the lessons learned. However, sometimes your child can get a more serious injury.
If your child loses or chips a tooth, don’t panic. There are plenty of solutions for it.
I cannot say enough wonderful things about The Dental Anesthesia Center and Dr. Thoms. My 7-year-old, who has autism, recently had dental work done here and the experience exceeded expectations. The staff was incredibly kind, patient, and understanding of his needs. They took the time to make him and us feel comfortable, never rushed, and explained everything. I am so grateful for this office and the team that made my son's dental care possible. I would recommend The Dental Anesthesia Center and Dr Thoms to any parent, especially those with children who have special needs. They truly go above and beyond. ❤️
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your thoughtful review and kind words! We’re truly grateful for your trust in our team and Dr. Thoms. Knowing your visit was a positive and comfortable experience means the world to us — it’s exactly what we strive for with every patient and family. 💙
Very patient with elderly patients. Very good experience.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your feedback! We’re pleased to know the visit was a positive experience.
My son has been a patient of Dr Michael Hoffman since he was 5 years old. He is now 21 years old. My son has diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and therefore I am cautious of who I select as a treatment provider. Dr. Hoffman’s office is professional, kind and I know they have his best interest at heart. I highly recommend Dr. Hoffman and staff to anyone seeking dental care.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and recommendation! We truly appreciate your trust in our team over the years.
Super experience. Gentle and empathetic. All round care is great. Staff are wonderful.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review! We’re so glad you had a great experience with our team.
We are forever grateful for Dr Hoffman and his wonderful staff for having the vision of how to get necessary dental work done for patients who are dealing with autism and cannot tolerate it without dental anesthesia. We have been taking our adult daughter there once a year for the last four years. Thanks to Dr Hoffman’s vast knowledge and expertise, our daughter has been able to get wisdom teeth removed, cavities filled, teeth cleaned and detailed X-rays to know exactly what needed done. The Dental Anesthesia Center is a great service to the community. Thank you so much for helping us.
Response from the owner:hank you so much for your thoughtful review and kind words about our team! We truly appreciate your trust in us and are honored to provide care in a way that helps make dental treatment more comfortable and accessible for all patients. Your feedback means a great deal to our entire staff.
How to Save a Dislodged Tooth
Saving a dislodged tooth is not impossible. Your body is able to do it, as long as the tooth is kept alive. A popular myth is that the broken tooth should be put in milk while you’re on your way to the dentist. While it may be much better than nothing, saline solution is more fit for this. Use a sterile saline solution that is compatible with human body fluids.
Options for Tooth Loss in Kids
If you did not have the chance to save the broken tooth, plenty of options are available for your kid. However, if you are considering a dental implant, it may not be the first solution available to you.
Let’s explore the solutions in case your child breaks a tooth.
Dental Implants
Dental implants may be a permanent solution, almost identical to the lost tooth and solidly fixed onto the jaw bone to give it full functionality, but children should not have them done before their jaw is fully developed.
The minimum age to get a dental implant is generally 15 for girls and 17 for boys. It is around that age when the jaw is fully developed, and the implant doesn’t affect the future tooth alignment.
Bridge
A bridge is a partial denture that uses the healthy teeth next to the gap to stay in place. The dentist can ground a healthy tooth and fix a crow on it that holds the partial denture in the gap. But that is not the only way to get a bridge. It can also be done by bonding the denture to the healthy teeth with resin.
Artificial Tooth Attached to Braces
If you were planning on getting braces for your child anyway, they could be the perfect option for missing teeth. Fake ones can be attached to the braces and fit perfectly while the others are being straightened.
Partial Denture
A minimally invasive solution is a partial denture. The dental technician will create a fake tooth that will fit in the space left by the missing one.
Your St. Louis pediatric dentist will provide the best option for your child until they are old enough to get a dental implant. Give us a call today at (314) 862-7844!
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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.
