Did your child ever chip their front permanent tooth

[monarchsfan16]

Are there really people out there that open cans of soda with their teeth?

I knew a few idiots that did in elementary school. My assumption is that most of the population does NOT, but it's a blanket warning.

 

[DebbieB]

I've had bonding on my front 4 upper teeth for 15 or 20 years. I had spaces between my teeth plus I had a chip on the surface of one. I do have to be careful what I bite into, they will chip. About 3 years ago, I was getting my teeth cleaned and the hygentist used floss the size of a rope and chipped one. Now I remind her not to floss the front 4.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I'm also a chipped tooth survivor. Did it when I was about 10 years old to one of my upper center front teeth - no idea how. I was just out playing and when I came inside later I noticed the chip. It was bonded and the bonding lasted until I was 17. I had it replaced and it's still going strong, more than 10 years later. Seriously, they match the bonding material to your tooth color and it stains at the same rate as your normal teeth (I'm a coffee and cola drinker), so you can't even tell that it's there.

Seriously, it's totally not a big deal. I don't even know how I chipped my tooth, so it is something that can just happen without a lot of "trauma". A regular dentist will be able to fix it quickly and painlessly, and you DD can go on with her life.

 

[mominwestlake]

Thanks everyone for making me feel better. Really. DD went to emergency room for severe abrasions and the concern that one needed to be stitched.
Left a message for our dentist and we'll go from there.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I have a tooth (right next to one of my front teeth) that has a chip in it. I had it fixed with bonding about 15 years ago and one more time since. Bonding doesn't last forever so I know I'll have to have it redone every now and then. I think it looks fine and no one knows it's bonded but me. I agree with the OP about teeth needing to look good. I always seem to notice people's teeth and think front chipped teeth should be fixed right away. Your DD will be just fine and perhaps your DH has learned about safe biking!

 

[minkydog]

So maybe I should look around and not just use our regular dentist? I just want whatever we choose to look good. Plus, she'll probably be getting braces this summer so I don't know how that will figure in. I guess I am just ticked with dh's attitude. NOTHING is ever a big deal to him. He is just so laid back about everything. Our marriage is already on the rocks and this is just another thing. It's not that I blame him. It's another thing he overrode me on- I said I didn't think bikes were safe at camp riding down hills. He tells me to loosen up. This happens. And yes, I know it could have happened at recess! But she is turning 12 soon and looks are starting to matter.

I can tell you're upset, and I would be too. But it was an *accident*. He didn't haul off and hit her, and IMO, he didn't let her do something so dangerous. I don't know what kind of campground they were at, but our kids always take their bikes camping and it would never occur to me to tell them not to use them. It was just an unfortunate accident, but it's fixable.

My brother did the same thing aboutr 30 yards from our front yard. It was an accident. He wasn't doing anything other than riding home from school and he chipped about 1/3 of his tooth off. The dentist bonded it and now 39 years later I bet you couldn't pick out which tooth it was.

ETA: One of my BFFs in high school had terribly crooked teeth. She spent almost 4 years in braces and was so proud when the braces came off. Two weeks later, she took a football to the face and lost 8 front teeth. Of course, her parents were beside themselves and she had to endure some pain, but they got all the teeth replaced and she had a beautiful smile before the end of football season. I doubt anyone remembers what she looked like on that fateful day, except her and her parents. Your daughter will heal and she will be beautiful as ever. Really.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh, by the way - I chipped about a quarter/third of my left upper front tooth when I was, um, twelve. That was just a little more than the PP's brother's 39 years ago - truly, just a little. I don't know if bonding wasn't done back then, or if we really WERE seeing the worst dentist in the world - but even though my mom made me go back and get the rest of the tooth, I ended up with a cap.

Now, it was supposed to be temporary and I was told I'd need to get it replaced by the time I was eighteen or so. He never had the chance to replace it - later the same year, I told him he was a lousy dentist and he threw me out of his office for good... but I digress. He was right, the cap was temporary. It broke when I was 51.

 

[Becky2005]

I would start with your regular dentist and go from there.

My 9 year old decided this would be the year to knock completely out a front bottom permanent tooth AND an upper one hanging by a thread.

It happened in gym class and luckily, it happened RIGHT as the dentist opened for the day -- call from school, immediate call to dentist and take him right in -- one tooth in a cup of milk while I had no clue about the 2nd tooth issue, it was only because the dentist looked all through his mouth to see what other damage was done that he saw the upper one hanging by a thread.

Another boy & him collided -- my son got the brunt of the injury as the other boy only needed a stitch or two in his head & was back that afternoon.

Our dentist shoved the one tooth that was totally out back into place (VERY painful to watch & very painful to have done) and then bonded it to the teeth on both sides of it to hold it. He did the same with the upper one. By the time we got done, the roots regrew and are fine for right now -- those teeth will never be as strong as they were -- so if he somehow has another mouth injury with them, they probably won't survive a 2nd blow. It's always a possibliity that they will only last through high school or they could last forever, it's really hard to tell at this point. This was ALL done from our regular dentist and we don't have dental insurace. All in all it came to less than $200.00 (I think he was giving us a deal considering how much he did).

 

[N&B'smom]

One of my BFFs in high school had terribly crooked teeth. She spent almost 4 years in braces and was so proud when the braces came off. Two weeks later, she took a football to the face and lost 8 front teeth. Of course, her parents were beside themselves and she had to endure some pain, but they got all the teeth replaced and she had a beautiful smile before the end of football season. I doubt anyone remembers what she looked like on that fateful day, except her and her parents. Your daughter will heal and she will be beautiful as ever. Really.

Oh my!!

 

[camlace]

Chipped teeth are a way of life...no biggie, can happen any place, any time, no reason to blame anyone. I chipped mine when walking and I tripped and hit my chin on the pavement...chipped my top tooth. My sister was drinking a soda in a glass bottle, wasn't paying attention and bumped her front tooth with the edge of the bottle and snapped the tooth in half. Mine was never fixed and I have a corner of tooth missing, hers was bonded and you can't tell its not her tooth.

Now my other question...where exactly is one meant to ride a "mountain" bike??? They are meant for off-road cycling and perfect for use at a campground. If it was a racing style bike with the supper skinny wheels...not a smart choice, but mountain biking out in the wilderness...umm sounds reasonable to me

 

[Buckalew11]

I got hit in the face with a baseball bat around 8 and took a nice chip out of my tooth. I never got it capped or fixed in any way. Im 25 now and have no problems with it.

I lost mine to a baseball bat also.

I remember how upset my mother was--I was 8 and my permanent teeth had just come in. Later, I met a girl who lost hers and she told me how upset her mom was also. As a mom, I'd be upset too. I would try to keep it to yourself though because it could upset your dd. I was upset my mom wouldn't let me keep my chipped teeth (they were in 1/2.) because I thought it made me look tough.

I'd probably look into bonding and then veneers unless when she's older they have some new, terrific method that is better. Her mouth is still growing and teeth moving so I wouldn't drop a bundle just yet.

I dropped 10,000 last year on mine (6 crowns + root canals).

Good luck with your marriage. Sounds like things are rough on the homefront.

 

[shortbun]

My son cracked his in half all the way to the gum line...surfing. He didn't even feel the board hit him, just noticed the blood and ran up to me on the beach. The dentist on Hatteras rebuilt his tooth and that was two years-almost three-ago with no problems. It looks fine. Someday, he'll probably find he needs a root canal and an implant.

 

[Ceila]

That happened to my son. Twice. Both top front teeth, both times. Before he turned 10. I kid you not.

Both times the dentist used the bonding material and you would never know they aren't real. Honestly, they look amazing.

But I do understand looking at your child's beautiful smile with the chipped tooth and just wanting to cry. It's what moms do. {{hugs to you}} She'll be all fixed up soon!

 

[Ceila]

oops double post - what's up with the Dis today?

 

[JVL1018]

I chipped my front tooth when I was in 5th grade. I got it bonded and and it lasted about 20 years until my daughter accidentally whacked me in the mouth with her Nintendo DS.
I got it bonded again within the week, got braces a couple of years after that, my braces came off a year ago, no issues at all with the bonding.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I cracked my front tooth in half while ice skating at 10.

Had a root canal a year later. It never looked different or bad.

 

[handinpocket]

So maybe I should look around and not just use our regular dentist? I just want whatever we choose to look good. Plus, she'll probably be getting braces this summer so I don't know how that will figure in. I guess I am just ticked with dh's attitude. NOTHING is ever a big deal to him. He is just so laid back about everything. Our marriage is already on the rocks and this is just another thing. It's not that I blame him. It's another thing he overrode me on- I said I didn't think bikes were safe at camp riding down hills. He tells me to loosen up. This happens. And yes, I know it could have happened at recess! But she is turning 12 soon and looks are starting to matter.

Use your regular dentist, he/she probably knows how to fix a chipped front tooth, that is basics in dental school. Don't go to a cosmetic dentist unless you want to lose tons of money. Lighten up on your husband, she was just riding a bike and being a kid, accidents happen.

 

[zalansky]

Add me to the list of having my front tooth chipped at least in half when i was 17. The dentist bonded it and it looked great. I am 41 now and have never had to have it replaced (knock on wood) and I even had braces on for 2 years on that tooth as well. I would not look into veneers. Bonding is the way to go.