Of all the dental injuries you can experience, knocked-out teeth can be some of the most frightening; fortunately, they’re also one of the most treatable.
When a tooth has been fully knocked out of your mouth, you need to act fast; if you do, you can save the tooth. Here’s what you need to know:
A knocked-out tooth means that your tooth has been completely dislodged from its socket; dentists refer to this as dental avulsion. A knocked-out tooth is referred to as an avulsed tooth.
When a tooth has been knocked out, it can usually be restored - but time is of the essence. The faster you get to a dentist, the better the chance that your tooth can be reintegrated into your mouth.
At times, a permanent tooth that was already loose will fall out of its socket after some other event (like chewing something sticky). This type of tooth loss differs from knocked-out teeth because it is less likely that the tooth can be restored. Following the steps below can still be a good idea in these circumstances; however, it is still possible that the tooth can be restored. There’s no way to know unless you’re a dentist.
To save your tooth, you will want to reinsert your tooth into the socket. To do this, you’ll need to follow a few steps to ensure the tooth is clean before reinserting it - especially if it has fallen on the ground or another surface. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
This advice only applies to adult teeth; a knocked-out baby tooth should not be reinserted. You should also avoid trying to put teeth that have only been partially knocked out into the socket.
Wash your hands, then pick up the tooth by the crown. The roots are particularly sensitive, and they’re going to be placed back inside your socket; touching them can mean that your tooth will be unable to reintegrate with the rest of your mouth.
To clean the tooth, you should gently rinse it with water or milk (sterile balanced saline is best if available), paying close attention to any spots that are soiled or contaminated. Gentleness is the key here; too much liquid too fast can mean too much pressure on the roots, which can damage them.
You must not let a knocked-out tooth dry out; if the tooth becomes dry, it will die and will be unable to reintegrate.
The best way to store a knocked-out tooth is in a sealed container full of milk. Milk offers a combination of proteins and antibacterial properties that give knocked-out teeth the greatest chance of survival. When milk is not available, a saline solution is a secondary option; if no saline solution is available and it is your tooth that has been knocked out, keeping it between your cheek and gum is an alternative.
You’ll be transporting the injured person (yourself or someone else) and the tooth to an emergency dental office. You should only store the tooth if you cannot reinsert it into the socket; we’ll talk more about that in the next section.
In most cases, you should try to reinsert the tooth. After the tooth is properly cleaned, you reinsert it by lining it up with the other teeth, placing it gently into the socket, then biting down on a clean, soft fabric (preferably gauze, but other fabrics will do in a pinch). You should do this as soon as possible; rinse the tooth thoroughly but quickly, then reinsert it.
There are several circumstances in which the tooth should not be reinserted, including:
A knocked-out tooth has the best chance of reintegrating if you insert it and visit an emergency dentist within 30 minutes to an hour; the faster you reinsert the tooth and make it to your dentist, the better your chances.
When you have a dental emergency like a knocked-out tooth, the team at Fresh Dental can help; call us right away. If we are unavailable, you can also go to urgent care; just be sure to get treatment as soon as possible.
During emergency treatment, your dentist will ensure that your tooth is properly aligned in your socket; they may adjust it if it is not. In cases where the tooth has not been reinserted, they will insert the tooth into your socket for you. Once the tooth is properly inserted, they’ll place a splint on it, anchoring it to your surrounding teeth, until it has time to fully reintegrate.
In some cases, the tooth may not be salvageable. When this happens, your dentist may extract any parts of your tooth that are still in the socket. They will talk to you about your options, including implants and bridges.
After your trip to the emergency dentist, you should be gentle with your teeth. Some light bleeding and oozing are to be expected in the first 24 to 48 hours. The bleeding and the pain should begin to subside within the first couple of days.
Heavy bleeding, pus, yellow or green discharge, loose splints, and pain that grows worse over time are not normal; you should see your dentist right away if these things happen.
Here are some tips on caring for your tooth after it’s been reinserted:
For the first two weeks, you’ll also want to avoid any hard, tough, or chewy foods. Opt for soft foods and liquids.
When a knocked-out tooth reintegrates, the long-term outlook is very positive; the tooth may remain in its socket for 20 years or longer. Eventually, however, it is likely that the tooth will need to be replaced; a dental implant or a bridge are two options for replacement.
Reinserting a knocked-out tooth can lead to some complications. Though rare, some patients experience:
Regular visits to your dentist can help you spot and treat these complications. In some cases, these conditions may require oral surgery.
Teeth are knocked out because of accidents; most frequently, these accidents happen in contact sports or other sports with a high risk of injury. Wearing a mouthguard, a helmet, and other protective gear is the best way to prevent your teeth from getting knocked out.
When your tooth is knocked out, you need to act as quickly as possible. Rinse the tooth with milk, insert it into the socket, and get to a dental clinic.
The dentists at Fresh Dental have years of experience saving teeth that have been knocked out. We can help you. Dealing with a dental emergency? Visit our clinic right away!