For many people, they hope their baby teeth are the last ones to come out. However, you may knock out an adult one from a facial blow or another reason. It’s easy to be shaken up about this dental emergency, but it’s important to act fast. Getting seen within an hour can give you the best shot at salvaging the structure. Here is how to handle a knocked-out tooth with confidence.
Step #1: Find Your Tooth
Look around to see where your tooth wound up and pick it up by the crown only. This is the chewing surface, but it’s important that you don’t touch the root. It has tissues on it that can be helpful with reattachment. Quickly assess the condition and take note if there’s any damage.
Step #2: Clean It Off
If there is debris on the structure, then clean it in a still bowl of milk, sterile saline, or your saliva. You can use water, but just make sure you don’t leave it submerged for too long. The cells on the root can’t handle it very well. Don’t use any soap or rub it as well.
Step #3: Place Tooth Back into Its Socket or Milk
Once the tooth is rinsed off, do not dry it. In fact, it needs to stay moist. A great way to do this is by putting it back into its socket. You can do this as long as there’s no damage, and you should gently bite down on a paper towel or clean washcloth. If you can’t, then keep the structure in a container of milk or your saliva. You can also tuck it between your cheek and gums; just don’t swallow it by accident!
Step #4: Go to Your Emergency Dentist
As was mentioned above, it’s important that you see your dentist within an hour of the situation happening. Getting in as soon as possible will give you the best shot at saving your smile, so head over to their office right away.
Can My Tooth Be Saved?
Once it’s time for your appointment, your provider will assess your mouth, tooth, and get you out of pain. If reattachment is possible, then a splint will be used to hold it in place while the surrounding gum and bone tissue grow back around it. However, there is a chance this isn’t possible, so you may need to explore replacement options. In the end, your dentist is here to help you out, so don’t delay seeing them in this situation.
About the Practice
At Metro Park Dental Arts, our team is dedicated to helping the Rogers community with their oral healthcare. Led by compassionate dentists, we are often able to see patients for same-day urgent visits; that way, they can get the treatment and relief they need as soon as possible. If you find yourself in the scenario above, the fastest way to schedule an appointment is by calling our office at (479) 845-1191.