How do knocked-out teeth happen?
If you receive a blow to the face or jaw then it may result in a knocked-out tooth.
Here are some of the steps that you should take if you experience teeth that have been knocked out.
1. Find the tooth and without touching the root, carefully pick it up.
Immediately after you lose your tooth, attempt to retrieve it. Carefully pick the tooth up by the crown (the part exposed above the gum line when it is in your mouth).
2. If it's dirty, use plain water to gently rinse it.
Use only water to rinse any debris or dirt from the tooth. Avoid using chemicals or soap. Do not scrub or dry the tooth, or wrap it in cloth or tissue, as any of these actions may result in damage.
3. Try to place it back into its socket if you can.
Try putting the tooth back in its socket right away. You can try to gently push it in (continuing to touch the crown only, not the root). Another option is to try positioning it above the socket.
Close your mouth slowly to push it in. Using a finger, hold the tooth in place. You might also bite down on it.
4. Keep the tooth or teeth moist while you get to the dentist.
If you’re unable to place the tooth back in its socket, it must be kept moist until you get to the dentist. Place it in a cup of milk, or keep it in your mouth next to your cheek. Avoid storing it in regular tap water, as the root surface cells will not be able to tolerate water for an extended period of time.
Using this method of preserving a tooth may increase the likelihood of your dentist being able to replace it.
5. Try to reach the dental office within 30 minutes of the accident.
Ideally, you should go to your dentist’s office within 30 minutes of losing any teeth. However, it may still be possible for your dentist to save a tooth if it has been outside the mouth for an hour or more.
What are some ways to prepare for dental emergencies at home?
Dental emergencies can happen at ay time, luckily there are some ways that you can prepare for them:
Keep these things around the house at all times, as they are handy to have in a dental emergency:
- Over-the-counter painkillers (such as ibuprofen)
- Ice pack
- Small container with a lid to preserve a knocked-out tooth
- Gauze
- The phone number of our Burnaby dentist’s office
Type "dentist near me" into your favourite search engine, and our information will likely come up. As soon as you feel safe and are able to call our office, do so. We will make room in our schedule to see you as soon as possible.
