Can a Knocked-Out Tooth Be Saved?
March 10, 2021 8:00 am |Having a tooth knocked out can be a very scary and stressful situation! It’s important to know what to do next so that you have the best chance of saving your natural tooth. Here’s what you need to know!
What Can Knock a Tooth Out?
Over half of all dental injuries happen while playing sports. Chances are if your tooth gets knocked out, it’s probably during a sporting event or a neighborhood baseball game. However, other accidents can happen that can result in losing a tooth, such as falling off a bike, skateboard, or furniture; running into something; biting into a hard object; and more.
What to Do If Your Tooth Gets Knocked Out
Time is everything when it comes to saving your natural tooth. If your tooth gets knocked out, pick it up by its crown (the chewing surface) and do not touch the roots. Gently rinse off the tooth with milk or water. Do not use soap or cloth. If possible, put it back in its socket. After you put the tooth back in your mouth, use a clean piece of gauze and lightly bite down on it to keep the tooth in place. If you can’t put the tooth back in, put it in a cup of milk or keep it between your cheek and gums. The tooth needs to stay moist until you get to a dentist.
Call an emergency dentist right away and go to their office immediately after losing your tooth. The sooner you see the dentist, the better.
Can My Dentist Save a Knocked-Out Tooth?
When you visit the dentist with a knocked out (avulsed) tooth, your dentist will figure out the best course of action based on the current state of the tooth, how long it has been out of the mouth, and more. Sometimes, it’s as simple as placing the tooth back into the socket. Other times, your dentist may have to fix a crack in the tooth before putting it back in its place. However, quick reimplantation of the tooth is crucial.
Reimplantation is usually most successful if it happens within an hour of the initial dental injury. Once the tooth is reimplanted, your dentist will use a composite material to splint your avulsed tooth to your surrounding teeth for support until the root reattaches to the jawbone.
Emergency Dentist in Cedar Park, TX
At Vista Ridge Family Dentistry, we offer same-day emergency dentistry. We understand that time of the essence when it comes to a dental injury. You can count on our team to be there for you when you need it the most.
Have a dental emergency? Call now 512-402-7811!
Picture by Authority Dental under CC 2.0
Categorised in: Dental Emergency