Dentistry/2 year old

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Expert: - 2/27/2009


Question
My little 2 year old son just fell and hit his upper tooth (1) and it went inside his gums entirely. After visiting an emergency dentist the tooth was taken out completely. My question is since the tooth went so far inside the upper gum, can it affect the grow of his tooth that he will get at the age 4-6? I am afraid that maybe something inside got damaged and his tooth wont grow or will be different/uneven etc.  Please help since I am very concerned. Also, Does this happen often to other children? Thank You..

Answer
This type of intrusion injury certainly has the potential to have done some damage to the developing permanent tooth but that's over and done and there's nothing to be done until the permanent tooth emerges in 4-5 years.  On the brighter side, the longer the intruded tooth remains buried in the gums the greater the risk of damage to the permanent tooth, so having it removed certainly minimizes that factor.  When we do see damage to the permanent incisor it's usually a small area of discoloration or enamel defect which can easily be repaired or covered after the permanent tooth emerges.

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Dr. Randolph Myerson

Expertise

Please limit your inquiry to questions about orthodontics (braces) and children's dentistry. I am both an Orthodontist and a Pediatric Dentist, having been trained in both of these dental specialty fields. Orthodontics is the dental specialty that treats problems of tooth, bite and jaw alignment using braces and removable appliances. Pediatric Dentistry is the dental specialty also known as dentistry for children, which deals specifically with the dental problems of this special age group from infants to adolescents. I am also experienced in Forensic Dentistry, the application of dentistry to law enforcement and identification using dental records.

Experience

I have been in the private practice of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry for over 20 years. Prior to that I served for three years on the Cleft Palate and Cranio-facial Reconstruction team at Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia and was an Assistant Professor of Dentistry at University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. I also served as a dentist in the U.S.Air Force, stationed at Andrews AFB in Washington, DC.

Organizations
I am a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, as well as a member of the American Dental Association and the Dental Society of the State of New York.

Education/Credentials
I received my BA in Biology from Frankin & Marshall College in 1969, and my dental degree from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1973. In 1978 I received both my Certificate in Orthodontics from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, and my Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia after completing a three year Teaching Fellowship in Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in 1978.

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