What to do if Tooth Knocked Out
If a tooth is “knocked out”, it should be rapidly placed back in the tooth socket if at all possible. Deciduous (baby) teeth are generally not replanted due to their poor success.
Keeping the tooth moist is most critical. Other alternatives include placing the tooth in the mouth between the cheek and gum, placing the tooth in dilute salt water (tsp salt in 8 -12 oz glass of water) or milk. The sooner the tooth is re-inserted into the dental socket, the better for the survival of the tooth. Therefore, the patient should see a dentist or oral & maxillofacial surgeon as soon as possible. Never attempt to “wipe the tooth off”, since remnants of the ligament which hold the tooth in the jaw are attached and are vital to the success of replanting the tooth. You may gently rinse the tooth of before reinserting into the socket.
Other dental specialists may be called upon such as an endodontist, who may be asked to perform root canal therapy, and/or restorative dentists who may need to repair or rebuild fractured teeth. In the event that injured teeth cannot be saved or repaired, dental implants are often now utilized as replacements for missing teeth.
If you have any questions with regards to our scope of trauma services please do not hesitate to contact us.