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What To Do With A Knocked Out Tooth

Oct 2, 2024

Understanding dental avulsion, a displaced tooth, is not just a medical term but crucial knowledge for anyone facing a dental emergency. It’s one of the most severe dental injuries, involving exposure of the cells of the periodontal ligament to the external environment and disruption of the blood supply to the pulp. Accidents and unexpected events can occur in our daily lives. As a result, even our teeth are not exempt from accidental trauma.

These accidents can happen in a variety of ways. Most commonly, these accidents are as follows:

  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Bicycle accidents
  • Sports injuries
  • Traffic accidents
  • Eating something hard
  • Job-related injuries
  • Assaults

Underlying medical problems such as the following can make losing a tooth more likely in the event of an accident:

  • Uncontrolled diabetes
  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure
  • HIV
  • Cancer
  • Arthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Bone disease
  • Teeth misalignment
  • Tooth decay
  • Gum disease
  • Stress
  • Pregnancy
  • Menopause
  • Certain medications (read the medication label carefully)

Immediate action is not just necessary; it’s crucial for a knocked-out tooth. There are specific precautions you should take right after losing the tooth. By following these instructions promptly, you can significantly increase the chances of saving the tooth, making you feel empowered and capable of

handling the situation.

  1. During a dental emergency, it’s essential to stay calm. Keeping your heart rate and blood pressure down is crucial. Staying calm will also help you think clearly and execute the steps to ensure the tooth’s recovery and restoration are successful. By emphasizing the importance of staying calm, you can help your audience feel reassured and in control during a potentially stressful situation.
  2. Find the tooth. Again, this step may be easier said than done. When an accident occurs with the force to knock a tooth out, somebody can throw the tooth can be thrown clear of the scene. Once you locate the tooth, there is a proper way to handle it. Handle the tooth from the crown (top) of the tooth. The roots (bottom) of the tooth attach to the bone and go below the gumline. Inspect the tooth on the crown and root and ensure no part is missing or fractured.
  3. Stop the bleeding. You can first rinse your mouth gently with a mild salt water solution. Do not swish the water around hard and create pressure. Next, gently apply pressure to the bleeding site using a sterile cotton ball. You may have to hold the cotton ball in place for 15 to 20 minutes.
  4. Rinse the tooth. Remember to hold the tooth from the crown and rinse it gently in water or with milk. If you use a saline solution, make sure it is sterile. Do not try to scrub, wipe, or brush the tooth. Scratches can etch the tooth or damage the more delicate parts of the root.
  5. Reinsert the tooth. Gently reinsert the tooth back into the socket. Place a sterile gauze on top of the tooth and gently bite down. If the tooth will not go in, do not force it. Gums or surrounding teeth could be damaged, too, so attempting to move the tooth back in can create further damage.
  6. If you can not reinsert the tooth, preserving it properly for Terry County Dental is crucial. Keep the tooth moist, but not with tap water. Milk or a saline solution are excellent sources of moisture for a dislodged tooth. Another option is to place the tooth between your cheek and gum line to keep it moist. Avoid touching the tooth’s root as much as possible to prevent further damage.
  7. Remember, Terry County Dental is your best ally in this situation. The sooner you reach out to them, the better your chances of saving your tooth. Ideally, you should see a dentist within 30 minutes. If that’s impossible, keep the tooth moist, as outlined above. Your dentist will be able to evaluate your situation and provide the most effective treatment. Knowing that your dentist is there to support you can help alleviate some of the stress in this situation.

Creating a Dental Splint

Once you have secured the tooth and called the dentist, there are many solutions to saving a tooth.

After you arrive at the dentist’s office, the dentist will examine your mouth.

This exam will include X-rays. X-rays ensure the tooth properly aligns and allow the dentist to see if there is any damage to the bone.

In the event the tooth is not in the correct position, dental splinting may be necessary. Dental splinting involves anchoring the loose tooth to adjacent, well-attached teeth. This is done using a wire and dental glue, a composite

material similar to what is used to fill a tooth. The single unit that dental splinting creates allows the dislodged tooth to restabilize, increasing the chances of successful reattachment.

One of the two following materials can be used to splint a knocked-out tooth:

  1. A wire and dental glue, a composite material similar to what is used to fill a tooth, are used to anchor the knocked-out tooth to surrounding stable teeth.
  2. A clear retainer can also be worn to stabilize the knocked-out tooth. Typically, the retainer would be worn for about two weeks.

Solutions Other Than Dental Splinting

Cosmetic solutions are available if your knocked-out tooth can not be found or damaged beyond saving. These solutions include:

  • Fixed bridge. A fixed bridge can be used in the event several teeth are missing. False teeth are created and anchored to adjacent healthy teeth. The fixed bridge is removable for cleaning.
  • Flipper. A flipper is a single tooth anchored to a stable tooth. The false tooth is created from zirconia. A flipper is also removable for cleaning.
  • Ball attachment denture. A ball attachment denture replaces several missing teeth. Metal bars are attached to the gums. The denture snapped into attached metal bars.
  • Individual implants. A single implant is inserted to replace a knocked-out tooth. The implant requires inserting a post into the jawbone. A crown is then placed on top of the post for aesthetic purposes.

It’s crucial to understand that regardless of the treatment plan, your dentist must replace a knocked-out tooth. Neglecting to do so can harm other teeth in your mouth. By replacing the tooth, you’re taking a proactive step to prevent further dental complications. Delaying the visit to the dentist can lead to a higher risk of infection, damage to the surrounding teeth and gums, and even permanent loss of the tooth. So, it’s important to seek immediate dental care after a dental avulsion.

Ideally, contact Whiteridge Aesthetic Dentistry right away to arrange the fastest treatment for a knocked-out tooth. Their team of experienced dentists specializes in emergency dental care and can provide the necessary treatment for dental avulsion.

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