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In life, accidents happen. When it comes to your teeth, children and adults run the risk of having one knocked out due to injury. The good news is that even though it’s been knocked out, it doesn’t mean it lost for good. Proper emergency action can save the tooth so that it can be replanted successfully and last for years to come.
Rule #1 when you suffer a knocked-out tooth: act quickly – within 30 minutes – and be sure to visit a dental professional, such as an endodontist. At the office of Jamaica Dental PC, we provide comprehensive endodontic treatment to help patients preserve their teeth and their natural smiles. Our office is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and we have established a reputation for providing the highest quality of care.
Here we offer you these tooth-saving steps that immediately after your accident, until you reach our office:
1. Pick up the tooth by the crown (the chewing surface) NOT the root.
Locate the tooth immediately; don't leave it at the site of the accident. Handle the tooth carefully when you pick it up, and never touch the root of the tooth, only the crown (chewing surface).
2. If dirty, gently rinse the tooth with water.
Use only water to gently rinse off any dirt. Do not use soap or chemicals. Don’t scrub or dry the tooth, and don’t wrap the tooth in a tissue or cloth.
3. Reposition the tooth in the socket immediately, if possible.
Try to put the tooth back into its socket right away. Gently push it in with your fingers, by handling the crown, or position it above the socket and close your mouth slowly. Hold the tooth in place with your fingers or by gently biting down on it.
4. Keep the tooth moist at all times.
The tooth must stay moist at all times, either in your mouth or, if it can’t be replaced in the socket, put it in milk, in your mouth next to your cheek, or in an emergency tooth preservation kit (such as Save-a-Tooth®). Don’t use regular tap water; root surface cells can’t tolerate that for extended periods of time.
5. See an endodontist or dentist within 30 minutes of the injury.
Bring the tooth with you to your emergency appointment, which should ideally be within 30 minutes. However, it is possible to save a tooth even if it has been outside the mouth for an hour or more. At the office of Jamaica Dental PC, we’ll provide the highest quality of skilled and compassionate care to preserve your natural teeth and your great smile. For more information on our office and the many services that we provide, give us a call today.
By Jamaica Dental PC
August 20, 2020
