What should I do if a tooth falls out by an impact?

Whilst teeth falling out due to some kind of physical impact can be a rather painful and unpleasant experience, there are methods to save or replaced the missing tooth. However, it is essential that you see your dentist as soon as possible when a tooth gets removed in this way, and that you treat it carefully whilst you are waiting to be seen. In this article, we are going to explore how to best preserve your tooth if it has experienced any trauma, and the process of fixing or replacing the missing tooth.

What should I do next?

If you have lost a tooth, it is important to find a way to preserve the tooth if you cannot place it back in your mouth. The best way to do this is by placing the avulsed tooth into a glass of milk. Milk is the best solution to place the tooth in as it keeps the root from drying out, and prevents the cells on the roots surface from expanding and bursting, as they would if you placed within water.

Whilst adult teeth are less likely to be saved, they can still be reattached if you get to the dentist immediately. Having a tooth avulsed (forced out) is recognised as one of the most serious dental emergencies, so time really is of the essence if this occurs.

Be sure to not handle the root, as this is the most sensitive part of the tooth and can be very easily damaged.

If your tooth is dirty after being forced out, rinse with milk or, if no milk is available, water. Be sure not to wipe off the dirt as this can cause even more damage to your tooth.

As mentioned earlier, the critical thing is to be sure that your tooth is kept moist whilst waiting to be seen by your dentist. If you cannot find any milk to keep your avulsed tooth in, store it in between your gums and cheek, as this is a warm environment with plenty of saliva to preserve the tooth. If your child has lost their tooth, lace their tooth in a cup with their saliva to avoid choking hazards.

In some cases, the tooth can be placed back into the socket from which it came out of. If this cant be done easily, or through placing too much pressure, avoid attempting to place it back in the socket, as this could lead to further damage to your tooth.

What your dentist will do

Depending on the extent of the damage caused to the tooth, the process of fixing it can be relatively easy or quite complicated. For instance it may depend on whether the tooth has been chipped or broken.

Firstly, the dentist will begin by washing your socket with fluid to remove any dirt or debris. Once cleaned, the dentist will place the avulsed tooth back into place. For the best outcome, it is important to place the tooth back in the socket within an hour of the incident.

Many factors come into play when a dentist is deciding when to perform root canal surgery, such as how long the tooth was left out of the mouth, how severely the tooth has been damaged and how the tooth has been preserved, amongst other factors too.

Your dentist will begin repairing the tooth though splinting the tooth to the other teeth either side of it, usually using a soft metal wire to keep it in place for few days. The duration will be dependent on how long your dentist wants to keep it in foras is clinically beneficial.

The root of the avulsed tooth will usually repair and reattach to the bone in around three to four weeks, and will be examined again by your dentist after three to six months’ time, to check up on how well the tooth has healed. This will be repeated each year for around three years to make sure the tooth has been implanted successfully, and no more action is required.

If you are at all worried about your oral health or require a dentist, why not contact Ascent Dental Care Solihull today, to see how we can help you!

Looking for more information?

Require a dental appointment, or are looking for cosmetic surgery such as teeth whitening in Solihull, why not contact Ascent Dental Care Solihull today, for a tailored and friendly service.