One of the most immediate and traumatic dental events both from an emotional and physical standpoint is an avulsed or knocked out tooth. We all lead active lives these days, playing ball, running, and biking. So, this can definitely happen to you. Let’s get prepared together. If this happens to you or to someone else when you are present, there are some important things to remember which can make or break the success of us saving your tooth. You can be a real hero in your community by following some of our guidelines.
First, if the tooth is displaced and still in your mouth, partially in the socket, do not remove it. Call the dentists office immediately, so we can help with the process as soon as possible. It is important to get the tooth stabilized back into your proper bite as soon as humanly possible.
Second, if the tooth has been completely knocked from the socket, do not panic. Find the tooth, which will likely be the immediate region of the accident. If luck would have it and a “Save a Tooth” kit is near-by (Hank’s Solution), place it in the receptacle and proceed to the office. If this is not available, put it in the victim’s cheek and get somewhere (a neighbor, knock on a door of a house near the What Is Meant By Teeth Care accident), anywhere to obtain some milk and place it in a cup and get on over to us in 20 minutes or less. If milk is not available then saline, water or the patients own saliva will have to do. Often times realistically the most accessible storage in an emergency is the patients inside cheek. Do not be tempted to rinse the tooth with water, this will be done at the dental office with sterile saline.
Get right in the car and head over because time is of the essence. Less than 30 minutes and there is an excellent prognosis, 30-60 minutes and there is a good chance of successful re-implantation. More than an hour and the prognosis goes down dramatically. Don’t scrub or clean the tooth if it is dirty. Let us do that for you. There is important tissue on the root of the tooth which helps in the healing process.
Mostly, try not to panic, it will be OK. We have wonderful technology for saving and replacing teeth and tooth structures which will make it look as good as before the accident. We have never had a patient in all the years of our service who we could not find a permanent tooth solution for in the event of an unsuccessful tooth re-implantation.
By taking the proper precautions immediately when a tooth gets knocked out you will increase the chances of successful reimplantion of the tooth exponentially. Remember the faster you get the tooth back in the socket the higher the success rate. After an hour has passed the chance of the tooth How To Apply For A Dentist Job surviving the accident dramatically decreases. You are now a new expert on transporting and treating a knocked out tooth. Just like a paramedic it now becomes your job to handle an avulsed tooth properly and efficiently to get it to the dentist in proper condition for saving the tooth.