Life tends to throw a lot of curveballs, and they can easily knock out a few teeth if they hit you in the face. A dislodged tooth is a dental emergency that requires the immediate attention of a qualified dentist, but knowing how to deal with this crisis before it happens can help you reach the best possible conclusion. Here’s why you are unlikely to be able to reimplant a lost tooth on your own and how you can get the emergency dental care you need.
What Should I Do When My Tooth Is Knocked Out?
A tooth can be dislodged for reasons like accidents, injuries, and bad habits like using your smile to open bottles, and its chances of being successfully reimplanted begin to fall quickly after about thirty minutes. The first thing to do is to locate the tooth and handle it only by the crown portion, as touching the root can damage its vulnerable tissues. If the tooth is dirty, swish it around in lukewarm water to clean it, but do not scrub it or use hot or cold water or any cleaning agents.
While placing a dislodged tooth back in its socket probably won’t be enough to get it to reintegrate with the oral tissues, this is the ideal way to store it for transport to your dentist’s office. If this is not possible, you can also store the tooth in a small container of milk or saliva or by using an approved tooth preservation kit.
How Can My Dentist Address a Dislodged Tooth?
The best way for your dentist to address a dislodged tooth depends on the condition of it and your oral health when you get to their office. If your tooth is still in relatively good shape and hasn’t been outside of the mouth for too long, your dentist may be able to fix it back in place with a special device and help it reintegrate with your gum and bone tissue. However, a tooth that is no longer viable will need to be replaced with an appropriate restoration such as a bridge, denture, or dental implant.
Don’t let an unexpected injury leave its mark on your smile. Knowing who your emergency dentist is and how to transport a dislodged tooth to their office may allow you to preserve your complete grin.
About the Practice
Bruner Dental provides the people of Marion with the finest oral health services available. Led by Drs. Clifford Sneed, Justin Reeb, and Imran Dobouni, the staff ensures that each patient enjoys courteous and compassionate care in a warm and welcoming environment. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. If you have dislodged a tooth, dial (765) 613-3128. To learn more about preparing for oral emergencies, contact the office online.
