Accidents happen. If you’ve knocked a tooth out while playing sports or after falling, don’t panic; you might not need dentures just yet. There are simple things that can be done to preserve a dislodged tooth.
Chipping a tooth is common. Knocking one out altogether is less so, but with the right dental care from a local dental clinic in Bath, it may still be possible to save the tooth.
Visit a Dentist
The first thing you should do if you’ve dislodged a tooth is to make an emergency appointment with your dentist for an examination. The surrounding teeth could also be damaged and it’s important that a professional checks the extent of the dental injury.
Rinse and Try to Re-Implant
If there’s dirt on the tooth, rinse it in plain water. Do not scrub. Place it back in its correct position and bite down on a towel to re-implant. If this doesn’t work, the tooth will need to be safely transported to the dentist.
Place the Tooth in a Saline Solution
Pick up the tooth, being careful not to touch the root, and place it in a saline solution. If there is none available, use milk instead. If there is no saline or milk, place the tooth under the owner’s tongue and ask them to hold it there until they get to their dental office. Do this only if they are conscious and alert.
The dentist will soak the tooth in an antibiotic solution, place it back to its socket and anchor it in place using a splint that is attached to the adjoining teeth while the root heals. If the root subsequently dies, a root canal (filling of the root space) may be necessary. The chance of success is greatest if the tooth is re-implanted within half an hour of the accident.
Dentures, crowns, or implants aren’t the only solutions for a knocked-out tooth. Treating the tooth carefully at the scene and getting emergency dental care could enable the patients to save their natural tooth.