What Should I Do After My Tooth is Knocked Out?

More than 5 million teeth are knocked out in the United States each year. It is one of the emergencies in dentistry that requires a prompt knocked-out tooth treatment. The avulsed tooth can be because of an injury to the face by an accident, a blow to the mouth, or playing contact sports.

During the knocking out of the tooth, the dentist cannot rescue the blood vessels and damaged nerves. However, the tissues and the bones that cover the affected tooth root can be reattached. But the good news is that if you take the right action immediately, the tooth is replaced into the tooth socket successfully.

What to Do When Your Tooth Gets Knocked Out?

Below are the tips that can help you get relief from a knocked-out tooth:

1. Hold the Tooth Carefully

Do not touch the tooth root because it can be damaged easily. Therefore, pick the tooth carefully by its crown. Make sure the tooth is not fully intact and fractured.

2. Clean It

To eradicate the dirt from the tooth, gently hold it under the crown. After that, wash the tooth root under lukewarm water for ten seconds.

• Avoid wiping the tooth with a cloth or another material because it can cause damage to the tooth root.
• Avoid wrapping or drying the tooth with a cloth.
• Do not rinse the tooth using soap or clear debris using your finger or cloth.
• If you find the gums to bleed, use warm water to wash your mouth.

3. Maintain Moisture Surrounding the Tooth

Even if you see blood, put the tooth back into its socket. Try to place it in one glass of milk and visit the emergency dentist near you immediately. To keep the tooth alive for a long time, use a PH-balanced solution.

You can also put the teeth in one cup of saliva. Avoid using regular tap water because the surface cells of tooth roots cannot bear them for a long time. If your little one has knocked out a tooth, avoid re-implanting it. It’s because you may damage the adult tooth developing underneath it.

4. Try to Place it Into the Socket

You can insert the tooth back into the socket by biting down on a moist paper towel or gauze gently. Make sure the tooth is facing the right side. But avoid forcing the affected tooth. Making it moisturized can help you put the tooth back in the socket if it does not return to its position.

Alternatively, you can hold the tooth between your gums and cheeks for 15 to 30 minutes. Keep the jaw close till you see the dentist. If the dental office is closed, visit the emergency room instantly to discover the benefits of emergency dentistry in Old Saybrook, CT.

5. Wear a Mouthguard

Always wear a high-quality mouthguard if you are playing contact sports. It is a rubber cover designed to protect the wearer against a blow to the mouth. Each mouthguard is custom-made as per the specifications of the patient. They can be either colored or clear.

6. Get Dental Service Immediately

Timely action plays an essential role in tooth survival. If you replace the tooth into its socket within five minutes of being knocked out, it will most likely survive. Go to the emergency department or the dental office within half an hour of the injury. It allows the tooth to get re-implanted to the adjacent teeth for two to eight weeks.

What to Expect When Your Tooth Gets Knocked Out?

Placing the avulsed tooth back in its position can be simple or complicated. The dental professional at Saybrook Family Dental Care uses water to eradicate the debris from the tooth socket. After that, he/she slips it back into its position to re-implant it. The dental expert may perform a root canal procedure immediately or wait.

The action the expert take relies on how long the tooth was out of the mouth and other factors. He/she will also use a composite material or a soft wire to splint the knocked-out tooth.

The dental expert will evaluate the tooth within three to six months. It helps the professional to check the mouth to ensure the tooth has been successfully re-implanted. The tooth root re-attaches to the bone in between 3 to 4 weeks if does not get fractured. However, if there is more damage, it will need 6 to 8 weeks of repair.