Having a permanent tooth knocked out is considered a dental emergency. Injuries to your mouth may go beyond the damaged tooth, and acting quickly is important. Learn how to perform first aid for a knocked out tooth and how quickly you’ll need to seek dental care to preserve your dental health.
First Aid for a Knocked out Tooth
A permanent knocked out tooth can sometimes be reimplanted into your mouth if the proper care is provided quickly. The steps for administering first aid are:
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Control any bleeding
The first step is to control any bleeding. Use gauze and light pressure on the gum or tooth socket to stop the bleeding. Make sure to tilt your head forward to prevent choking on the blood.
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Find and inspect the tooth
Try to find the knocked out tooth if possible. If you can find it, be careful how you pick it up. You should only touch it by the top, also called the crown. Never handle it by the roots, as you can damage the periodontal ligament cells required for reimplantation.
Inspect the tooth to see if any portion of the root or crown is fractured or missing. If you can’t find the tooth, it may have gotten pushed up into your gum. This is why it’s important to visit your dentist immediately, as you may require surgery.
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Rinse the knocked out tooth
If the tooth has debris on it, rinse it in a bowl of lukewarm water while holding it by the crown. Never use an antiseptic or other chemical cleaning agents on the tooth and do not rub or scrub it at all. Don’t hold the tooth under running tap water, as this could damage root cells and prevent reimplantation.
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See if permanent tooth fits in its socket
You may be able to place the knocked out tooth back in the socket. If it won’t go fully back into place, place the gauze on top of the socket and bite down gently. Carefully hold your tooth in place until you can visit your dentist.
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Store the knocked out tooth properly
If you can’t put the tooth back in its socket, you can store it inside the mouth between your gum and cheek. If you prefer to keep it outside your mouth, place it in a container with milk, saliva, or coconut. You can also use an over-the-counter tooth preserver made for knocked out teeth or make your own saline solution with ½ a teaspoon of salt combined with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
Ensure that the container you use is sterilised first. You can sterilise the container by boiling it in a pot of water for 10 minutes. Always store a child’s knocked out tooth in a container. Keeping their tooth in their mouth is a choking hazard.
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Get emergency dental care
Losing a tooth is a dental emergency. Dental trauma can damage other areas of the mouth and face and cause tooth luxation. A dentist can check for any damage in your mouth and may be able to reimplant the knocked out tooth if care is administered immediately following the incident.
If your tooth gets knocked out when your dentist’s surgery is closed, go to the emergency department at a hospital.
How Total Care Dental Studio Can Help?
Knowing how to properly handle a knocked out tooth, and the steps to take after this happens are important to preserve your dental health. After administering first aid for the knocked out tooth, contact Total Care Dental Studio in the Waterford area.
We handle many types of dental emergencies, including a knocked out tooth. Our staff understands the importance of receiving urgent care to preserve your tooth. Contact us today on (07) 3186 8517 for your dental needs.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
First Aid for a Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/Pages/First-Aid-for-a-Knocked-Out-Permanent-Tooth.aspx
Knocked Out Tooth: First Aid
https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/sig240330
Tooth Loss First Aid
https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-tooth-loss/basics/art-20056635
