KNOCKED-OUT TOOTH

If a tooth has been knocked out of the mouth completely, it’s important to contact the dentist immediately.

In general, dentists do not attempt to reimplant avulsed primary (baby) teeth because the reimplantation procedure itself can cause damage to the tooth bud, thereby damaging the emerging permanent tooth.

However, dentists always attempt to reimplant avulsed permanent (adult) teeth, unless the trauma has caused irreparable damage. The reimplantation procedure is almost always more successful if it is performed within one hour of the avulsion, so time is of the essence!

Steps to Take:

• Recover the tooth. Do not touch the tooth roots; handle the crown only.

• Rinse off dirt and debris with water without scrubbing or scraping the tooth.

• For older children and adults, insert the tooth into its original socket using gentle pressure, or place the tooth in the cheek pouch. For younger children, submerge the tooth in a glass of milk or saliva (do not attempt to reinsert the tooth in case the child swallows it).

• Do not allow the tooth to dry during transportation. Moisture is critically important for reimplantation success.

• Visit the dentist (when possible) or take the person who lost the tooth (and the tooth) to the emergency room immediately – time is critical in saving the tooth.