Pediatric dentistry
Dental accidents in children
A fall at the playground, a collision during sport, and a tooth is damaged. The short version: stay calm, stop the bleeding, then act quickly.
First: is it more than the tooth?
If there is loss of consciousness, vomiting, drowsiness after a fall, heavy bleeding, or facial injuries beyond the mouth, general medical care comes first. Call 112 in those situations.
Only once that has been ruled out does the tooth itself become the priority.
A permanent tooth has been knocked out completely
- Find the tooth and hold it only by the crown — never by the root.
- Do not wipe it, scrub it or disinfect it.
- Put it in a tooth rescue box from a pharmacy. If you do not have one: cold UHT milk, or cling film at a pinch. Water is not suitable.
- Get dental help immediately — time out of the mouth determines the outlook.
Replanting is only ever considered for permanent teeth. What happens next is decided after the examination.
A baby tooth is never put back in
This is the crucial difference. A knocked-out baby tooth must not be reinserted, because doing so can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath.
The injury should still be examined, because the jaw, the gum and the neighbouring teeth may also be affected.
Other common situations
- A piece has broken off: Keep the fragment and bring it in damp — sometimes it can be bonded back on.
- The tooth is loose or displaced: Do not push it back yourself. Soft food, and have it looked at promptly.
- The tooth looks fine but hurts: That needs checking too. Injuries to the supporting structures are not always visible from outside.
- The tooth discolours weeks later: A classic late sign. Please get in touch even if the accident was a while ago.
What happens afterwards
A dental accident is not only about the immediate treatment. Injured teeth are monitored over a longer period, because effects on the nerve or the root sometimes only show up months later.
Depending on the findings, that may involve root canal treatment, a crown, or — if a tooth is lost early — a space maintainer.
How to reach us after a dental accident
Address
Bilker Allee 56
First floor
40219 Düsseldorf
- Phone
- +49 211 30 8065
- Fax
- +49 211 30 5570
- termin@dent-suva.de
Opening hours
The children's practice's opening hours will be published once they are fixed. Until then, please ask by phone.
Dental accidents and urgent cases
Dental injuries are time-critical. Please call rather than sending a message.
Dental injuries are time-critical: the sooner an injured tooth is assessed, the more treatment options remain. Please call rather than waiting for the next routine appointment.
Outside opening hours, the out-of-hours dental service run by the Nordrhein dental association is responsible. If there is heavy bleeding, loss of consciousness, or injuries beyond the mouth, call the emergency services on 112.
Common questions
How quickly do we need to act?
For a permanent tooth that has come out completely, every minute counts. Loosened or chipped teeth are less dramatic but should still be assessed the same day.
Is a tooth rescue box worth keeping at home?
Yes, particularly if your child plays sport. Pharmacies stock them; the tooth stays moist in a suitable nutrient solution, which buys valuable time.
Further reading
After a dental accident
The essential steps for the first few minutes — worth knowing before you need them.
3 min read