A knocked-out tooth is one of the fewest actual dental emergencies that require an immediate dentist visit. Time is of the essence. A tooth can be knocked out by a blow to the mouth or from an accidental fall. This often occurs for example, while playing contact sports or horseplay. Fortunately, an accidentalor traumatic tooth loss does not immediately indicate permanent tooth loss. More often than not, a dentist can reinsert the tooth. The dentist will likely stabilize the tooth so as to promote reattachment to the bone. Quick action is the leading factor in a successful tooth avulsion treatment. Below, we examine what to do and how to save a tooth in the event that it is knocked out.
What should I do after my tooth is knocked out?
When a tooth is accidentally knocked out, also called tooth avulsion, the supporting tissues such as periodontal ligaments, blood vessels and nerves are traumatized as well. Successful re-implantation of the avulsed tooth will depend on the reattachment of the ligaments. Unfortunately, the blood supply
and nerve supply will not attach itself. As a result, the dentist may perform a root canal sometime after the reinsertion. Reimplanting is usually done only on permanent teeth. Experts agree that reinsertion of a baby tooth is not recommended. After a tooth is knocked out, visiting the dentist as soon as possible is critical. Avoiding further tooth damage is also essential. It is important to follow this recommendation to increase the chances of a successful reinsertion.
Locate all pieces of the broken tooth and bring them with you to the dentist’s office. Use extreme care while handling the tooth and avoid touching the tooth’s root. Do not rub off or scratch off any obvious debris. The dentist will take care of any such issues. Ligaments critical for reattachment are easily damaged with aggressive rubbing or rubbing.
How does the dentist put back a knocked-out tooth?
Reinserting a knocked-out tooth can be a straight forward procedure or other times can be a rather involved process. In most cases, the dentist will first gently rinse the tooth and socket with sterile water to remove any debris. The dentist will typically start by anesthetizing the area and then gently reinsert
the tooth. An x-ray is taken to confirm the tooth is properly seated in the socket. The reinsertion process should occur ideally within 1-2 hours of the accident. The dentist may still attempt to reinsert even if the tooth has been outside the mouth for extended periods.
The dentist may choose to wait or proceed with a root canal immediately. The optimal course of action will vary depending on a number of circumstances, including how long the tooth has been out of the mouth and whether the nerve is exposed. In either event, the dentist will use an orthodontic wire or splinting material to splint the tooth to adjacent teeth. Much like a broken arm cast, the tooth splint will remain in place for a period of time. The dentist may elect to leave the splint in place longer if there was significant damage to the supporting bone.
After four to six weeks, the periodontal ligaments that surround the tooth will firmly reattach to the bone and the dentist may elect to remove the splinting material. It can take eight to ten weeks to establish proper tooth stability if bony damage was severe.
Your dentist will likely recommend that the affected area be examined again in four to six months. Thereafter, it is a good idea to have the tooth checked periodically to verify a successful reimplantation treatment. If you should have any questions about a knocked-out tooth, call the Emergency Dental Center at 713-829-5508.
