knocked out tooth quality care

The Trauma of a Knocked-Out Tooth Calls for Quality Care

While it is rare, there are times when a severe oral accident or hard blow to the face can cause enough trauma to knock a tooth out of its socket. In these instances, the severity of the damage will largely influence the level of first-aid and treatment called for to manage pain and improve your restoration options.

If you have blood or debris in your mouth, you can rinse them away and soothe the injured tissues with lukewarm saltwater. Don’t rinse your mouth with antiseptic mouthwash as the alcohol or astringent chemicals can irritate traumatized gum tissues.

It might be possible for your dentist to implant the tooth back into the socket. For this to even be possible, the tooth needs to have been knocked out of the socket cleanly and it needs to still be alive.

Water and milk are poor liquids for preserving the tooth. The temperature change and potential foreign bacteria can cause further complications. The simplest way to keep the tooth alive is to hold it between your cheek and gums. There is also a tooth preservation product sold in stores. To use it, you simply place the knocked-out tooth in the jar and seal it. The nourishing gel inside will keep it alive for a short time until our dentist can examine the tooth and socket.

If any part of the tooth or the root remains in the socket, the tooth itself will not be viable for implantation. In a situation like this, our dentist will usually have to extract the remnants of the tooth and suture the gums. Later, he can help you decide if you’d like to restore the tooth with a dental bridge or dental implant.

If you’ve just had a tooth knocked out in Orem, Utah, you should call 801.224.6165 to seek immediate treatment at The Dental Center.