Knocking out a tooth can be a scary experience, especially if you’re not sure what to do! While pain can be an immediate concern, the more pressing issue is time. If you want to have the best chance to save your smile, you’ll need to prep your tooth and get to your dentist fast. But what needs to be done? Continue reading to see the steps to take to recover from knocked-out teeth!
Step 1: Find Your Tooth
As soon as possible, find the knocked-out tooth. Without it, there’s little your dentist can do. Handle it carefully by the crown—the white, chewing surface.
Avoid touching the root as it can damage the delicate tissues that will likely still be attached. This is necessary for successful reimplantation!
If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it with water. However, don’t use soap or scrub it! This can harm the root that you’re trying to keep intact.
Step 2: Keep Your Tooth Moist for Transport
A dry tooth is a dying tooth! It needs to stay moist to make it to the dentist unscathed.
The first option for preservation is putting it back in its socket. Gently orient the tooth and push it gently back into place. Once it’s in, hold it in place by gently biting down on a piece of gauze or clean cloth.
If you can’t seem to get the tooth back into the socket, or if it’s too painful, the next best thing is to hold it in your cheek, put it into a glass of milk, or drop it into a tooth preservation solution (like Sava-a-Tooth).
Whatever you do, don’t store the tooth in water! Osmosis will cause the cells needed for reattachment to swell and burst, making the tooth next to useless.
Step 3: Manage Bleeding
Once you’ve secured your tooth, you should tend to the socket. If your mouth is bleeding, apply gentle pressure to the area using a clean cloth or gauze. Avoid touching the empty socket with your fingers or tongue to prevent irritation. Then, use an ice pack on the outside of your cheek to reduce swelling and manage pain.
Step 4: Get to Your Dentist
Time is critical for saving knocked-out teeth. Call your dentist immediately or head to the nearest emergency dental clinic if your dentist isn’t available.
Ideally, the tooth should be re-implanted within 30 minutes to one hour for the best chance of success. Just be sure to bring the tooth with you and let your dentist know all the steps you’ve taken so far.
Knocking out a tooth is stressful, but following these steps can make all the difference in saving it! Acting quickly, preserving your tooth properly, and getting to your dentist fast will give you the best chance of restoring your smile.
About the Practice
Worried about knocked-out teeth? Our expert team of dentists at Main Line Dental Group is ready to spring into action! We use the latest dental technology and techniques to carefully preserve your pearly whites. Whether you’ve suffered an injury or have ongoing dental issues threatening your teeth, our skilled team can help. Call (610) 971-0717 to schedule an emergency appointment with us or visit our website to explore a full menu of services.