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Dental emergencies can happen out of the blue. Whether you took a blow to the face while playing contact sports or were in an accident, knocking out a tooth can be alarming. When you are in pain and panic mode, it can be difficult to know what to do. Continue reading to learn which steps to take if you have a knock-out tooth to give your dentist the best chance of saving it.
What to Do When Your Tooth Gets Knocked Out
To give your dentist the best chance of saving your tooth, take the following steps:
- Locate Your Tooth: Find your tooth and pick it up by the crown. Don’t touch the root because you could cause additional damage to the soft tissue.
- Rinse Your Tooth: If there is any dirt or debris on your tooth, gently rinse it with water. Don’t use soap or other chemicals, and don’t scrub or dry off the tooth. It needs to remain moist.
- Put Your Tooth Back: If you are able, place the tooth back into its socket. Gently push it in with your fingers and hold it in its place by gently biting down.
- Keep It Moist: If you can’t put the tooth back in your mouth, you still need to keep it moist. Put it in your cheek or place it in a container of saliva or milk. The root surface cells of the teeth are unable to tolerate plain water for an extended period of time.
- Call Your Dentist: Give your dentist a call to let them know that you are on your way. This needs to be done within an hour for the best chance of saving your tooth.
What If Your Tooth Cannot Be Saved?
If your dentist is unable to reimplant your tooth, this doesn’t mean that you will be sporting a gap in your smile for the rest of your life. This is the time to discuss your tooth replacement options, like a dental bridge or dental implant. If you don’t replace your missing tooth, you are at risk of other health issues, like misalignment, jawbone loss, and additional tooth loss. You should set up a treatment plan with your dentist as soon as you can.
Knocking out a tooth is stressful and scary, but by acting quickly and calmly, you may be able to save your tooth. See your dentist right away for the best possible outcome!
About the Practice
At Milton Hill Dental, we have a team of skilled dentists serving patients in the Milton community. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. If you have a knocked-out tooth, they would be happy to help. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (617) 696-4800.