Accidents happen. Even if your lifestyle isn’t very active, your tooth might still be accidentally knocked out due to a traumatic injury. There are plenty of incidents where a tooth could be knocked out of its socket: a rogue elbow on the basketball court; an accidental face-plant on a slippery pool-side; or even a forceful bite (usually if the tooth’s support is already weakened by periodontal disease). In any case, the knocked out (avulsed) tooth may be saved if you seek emergency dental treatment in time. Until you reach our office, however, Dr. Wright offers a few tips to follow to increase your chances of saving the tooth.
What to do with a Knocked Out Tooth
- Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown (the visible part of the tooth); take care not to handle the root(the lower part of the tooth)
- Rinse the tooth in a bowl of water.
- Do not brush, scrub, or dry the tooth
- Do not use soap or other chemicals
- Do not wrap the tooth in a tissue or cloth
Carefully, try to place the tooth back in its socket. If it fits, then gently bite down on clean, moist gauze to hold the tooth in place.
- If you are unable to put the tooth back in its socket, store the tooth in a small container of milk or your own saliva and call Dr. Wright and Dr. Heron to schedule an emergency visit. If you leave immediately, you may be able to keep the tooth in your cheek until you reach our office.
- Visit Dr. Wright and Dr. Heron within 30 minutes of the incident for the best chance of successfully replanting the tooth
If the Tooth Doesn’t Survive
If the tooth does not survive, then Dr. Wright or Dr. Heron will recommend replacing it. Besides the cosmetic impact, leaving the gap in your smile empty can lead to numerous dental health issues. Risks of periodontal disease and bone loss increase with every tooth you lose. A dental implant can restore the tooth’s function by providing a realistic, root-and-crown replacement for your lost tooth.
