Many people do not know that tooth that has been knocked out, has a chance to be saved. As long as you act fast and know how to handle it, you may very well save your smile.
When permanent teeth get knocked out, there is a right way to triage the situation. First, pick up the tooth by the crown, better known as the white chewing part of the tooth. Make sure you do not touch or scrub the root to minimize abrasion and contamination.
If the tooth has been dirtied in the fall, gently rinse the tooth with saline or milk for a few seconds. Then, you want to try to place the tooth back into the socket immediately after the rinse.
If you are assisting someone with their tooth, have them bite gently on gauze or cloth to hold it in place. If you are unable to reinsert the tooth into the socket, keep the tooth in cold milk, saline, or a tooth preservation kit.
After you have followed of these steps, make sure you see a dentist or endodontist immediately so they can further evaluate the tooth and see if it will be viable.
Make sure when storing the tooth, you do not place it in a dry in tissue, cloth, or plain water for a long period of time. This can damage the delicate root of the tooth and the healing cells living in the root.
Being able to act fast can be a reliable option to save the tooth and allow you to keep the tooth longer.
It is import to also remember that baby should not be placed back into the socket. This could easily cause damage to the permanent tooth underneath.
Regardless of the situation, immediate dental evaluation from a professional is still important and should be sought out after major trauma to any tooth.
Contact Pearl Family Dentistry at 209-383-6133 as soon as possible if you have a knocked-out tooth. We will make arrangements for an emergency visit with our dentists, determine if your tooth can be saved and provide you with the urgent treatment you need.