If a sudden impact causes you to lose a tooth, it is often possible for a dentist to place the tooth back in its socket. Understanding the steps you should take before you lose a tooth will allow you to act quickly if this occurs, increasing the chances that the tooth can be saved. Here is a step-by-step explanation of what you should do if a tooth is dislodged from its socket.
Pick Up the Lost Tooth by the Crown
Locating the tooth should be your first priority after you lose a tooth. As soon as the tooth has left your gums, the cells in the roots of the tooth will begin to die. The number of healthy root cells that remain is the most important factor that will determine whether a dentist is able to replace the tooth successfully.
To protect the roots of the tooth, you should touch only the crown when you are picking it up and handling it. The oils and bacteria on your hands will cause damage to the roots of the tooth to occur more quickly.
Rinse and Replace or Store Tooth
If the lost tooth is dirty, rinse it with a saline solution or milk if possible. If nothing else is available, rinse the tooth with water. If the tooth doesn't appear to be broken and you don't feel any chips of tooth in the dental socket, you can attempt to place the tooth back in its socket.
If placing the tooth in its socket is not possible, you should find a way to store the tooth so it will remain moist as long as possible. Placing the tooth between your gum and cheek is one option, but it may be difficult to hold the tooth still in your mouth without damaging it further. Another method is to place the tooth in a cup of milk or saliva.
Visit Your Dentist Immediately
If you visit your dentist within an hour of losing a tooth, there is a good chance that he or she will be able to place it back in its socket. The dentist will first rinse any debris out of the socket, and then implant the tooth into the socket. Splints made from wire are wrapped around the replaced tooth and the adjacent teeth to hold the tooth in place. The lost tooth will typically re-fuse with the bone in a number of weeks.
Keep these steps in mind so you can act quickly if you ever lose a tooth and avoid the expense of dental implants and other prosthetic tooth replacements.
Share22 January 2016
Halloween is a holiday that my children love, and telling them they can't go door-to-door collecting candy would break their hearts. This led me to allowing them to collect candy on the holiday, then rationing it out to them every day instead of letting them gobble it up in just a few days. I always thought this was better for them, but my dentist told me this could be the reason why their February dental check-ups were always their worst ones. Daily candy consumption was taking a toll on their teeth. I started a new tradition of letting them indulge for two days, then giving them the option to swap the rest with me in exchange for a new toy. They never pass on the opportunity for a new toy. I created this blog to encourage other parents find similar tactics to keep their children's teeth healthy after Halloween.