How To Handle A Situation Where You Have A Knocked Out Tooth
If you sustain a blow to the head, causing one of your teeth to come out of the socket in its entirety, you will want to take fast action in getting to an emergency dentist for help. If you are able to get to a dentist in under an hour, you have a chance at saving your original tooth. Here are some instructions to follow right after the incident occurs in an attempt to get your original tooth back into your mouth successfully.
Carefully Clean The Tooth
The tooth will need to be cleaned off before you attempt to bring it to your dentist. This will help eliminate any bacteria present on the surface so it is not transferred into your mouth. Hold the tooth by the crown portion when rinsing as any handling of the root area can cause it to deteriorate, making it impossible to be reset in the mouth as a result. Make sure the drain on the sink is closed before rinsing the tooth!
Try Resetting The Tooth
The best way to have a tooth placed back in the mouth by a dentist is to have it held into the original socket during your ride to the emergency facility. This way the root of the tooth will be in the original conditions, sustaining it with the proper moisture level needed while in transit. Push the root end of the tooth into the socket the tooth fell from. Make sure you have the tooth positioned as it was before it fell from your mouth. Gently push it into place. Hold a piece of gauze against the tooth to help keep it secure as you make your way to the dentist.
Use Proper Storage Methods
If the tooth will not go back into the socket because of trauma to the gum area, you will need to transport the tooth in liquid so the root does not dry out while you are traveling to your dentist. Milk is the best liquid to use for tooth transportation. It is not advisable to use water as there may be minerals in it which would cause damage to the tooth's root. If you do not have a container or milk readily available, place the tooth in your mouth between the inner cheek and the fronts of your teeth to keep it moist. Be very careful not to swallow the tooth using this method.
For more information, talk to a professional like Hernandez Dental.