No matter how careful you are, accidents happen, and sometimes they result in a knocked out tooth. This type of dental emergency can be very stressful and upsetting. If you lose a tooth due to an accident, don’t worry! As long as you know what to do, your dentist can potentially save and even reattach any teeth knocked out of your mouth.
How easy is it to knock out a tooth?
Even though a tooth’s roots normally hold it in place, enough force in the right spot can knock a tooth loose. Knocked out teeth—clinically known as avulsed teeth—are not uncommon. According to the American Association of Endodontists, more than 5 million teeth get knocked out of the mouths of children and adults every year.
Most tooth loss incidents occur when a person takes a hit to the face from a flying object, like a baseball. Teeth can also get knocked out during activities like mountain biking, or from playing contact sports like football or hockey. The impact from a car accident, a hard fall, or a tumble from a piece of playground equipment can also knock teeth loose.
Can a knocked out tooth be saved?
In some instances, yes, we can actually reinsert the knocked out tooth. However, it depends on what type of tooth it is and how badly the jaw was damaged.
Baby teeth (also known as deciduous teeth) have shorter roots than adult teeth. This makes knocking them out easier to do. This also means a dentist cannot reinsert a baby tooth into a child’s mouth, because doing so might damage the adult tooth growing underneath it.
If your child knocks out a baby tooth, call your dentist immediately for an exam to ensure there is no other damage to their mouth. If a permanent adult tooth has been knocked out, here are the steps to follow to ensure the best possible outcome for tooth reattachment.
1: Pick Up the Tooth Properly
Once you’ve located the knocked out tooth, pick it up by its crown—the chewing surface—of the tooth only. Try not to touch the roots of the tooth, which are usually yellow in color. The roots contain special ligaments that will need to be preserved in order to successfully reattach the tooth.
2: Rinse Properly
If the tooth has dirt on it, gently and briefly rinse it using milk or tap water. Do not wipe or scrub the tooth, as this could damage it even further.
3: Reinsert If Possible
After rinsing, try to reinsert the tooth—root end first—back into the socket it popped out of. This can help protect the tooth root from further damage, and it will keep the tooth moist. Do not force the tooth when reinserting it. If it does not easily reinsert into its socket, move on to the next step.
4: Can’t Reinsert? Place Tooth in Milk
Yes, you read that correctly. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, place it in a small jar or plastic bag of milk. The sugars, proteins, and antibacterial agents in milk help keep the tooth alive until you get to the dentist.
If you do not have access to milk, the next best place to carry the tooth to the dentist is in your mouth between your cheek and your gums. This will keep the tooth moist and place it within its natural environment, helping to keep it alive.
5: Act Fast
For the best chances of successfully reattaching an avulsed tooth, you should do everything you can to get to the dentist less than 30 minutes after the injury occurs. However, we have been able to successfully save knocked out teeth even an hour or so after an accident.
Emergency Dental Care in Flagstaff, Arizona
Dental emergencies like a knocked out tooth are scary and painful. Remember not to panic—we can help! Just follow the steps outlined above to help ensure that your dentist can save your tooth. If you or a family member experience a dental emergency, call Country Club Dental in Flagstaff immediately at 928-526-4314.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (5/2/22). Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
