What to do if a Tooth is Knocked Out

In the last post, we discussed the importance of wearing a custom fitted mouthguard when training and competing in contact sports to protect your teeth against painful and potentially expensive dental injuries.

In the case of an accident and a tooth is damaged or knocked out it is important to contact and see your dentist as soon as possible.

All dentists will treat an emergency like this with paramount importance.

If a primary (baby) tooth is knocked out, it is important not to reinsert the tooth. Chipped baby teeth may sometimes be restored or smoothed if the damage is minor.

If a secondary (adult) tooth is chipped, find the fragment, store it in a cup of milk and attend your dentist as soon as possible. If the secondary tooth is knocked out, immediately do the following.

• First, the tooth needs to be located. Some years ago a young patient of Geelong Smile Studio suffered trauma (jumping on a bed whilst on holidays). Their tooth was knocked out but not found. Upon returning a week later, the tooth was found with radiographs and later surgery – embedded in her nose!
• How you handle the knocked out tooth is vitally important and affects the success of any future treatment of the tooth. Only handle the tooth by the crown of the tooth; the visible white part of the tooth that is normally seen in the mouth.
• Do not touch any part of the root of the tooth where there will be vital ligament cells still attached to the root.
• If the root is dirty, ask the patient to gently suck the root clean.
• If the patient is not conscious, rinse the tooth in either milk or saline. Never use water to clean the tooth as this kills the ligament cells on the root.
• The shorter the time the tooth is out of the mouth and the more carefully the tooth is handled, the better the chance of the replanted tooth being successful upon placement in the mouth.
• Immediately place the tooth back in the socket (check the other teeth to see whether you have it the right way around!) and hold in place with a tissue.
• If you are unable to replant the tooth back in the socket, store the tooth in a cup of milk or get the patient to hold it in their mouth next to their cheek. If this is not possible store in plastic wrap to prevent the tooth from Drying out.
• See your dentist as soon as possible.