Accidents happen, and occasionally the accident involves panic when we realize that a tooth has been knocked out. If this is the case, getting the patient (and the tooth) to an Emergency Dentist Allentown right away can mean the difference between saving the tooth or losing it permanently. Of course, it’s always worth trying to save the tooth and there are a few steps you can take to help the dentist achieve this goal more easily.
When it’s realized that the tooth is knocked out, the first thing to do is try to locate it, if it’s not in the mouth. Occasionally, even if it’s broken into two or more pieces, the dentist can restore it, so make sure you have all the pieces with you when you gather them. Be careful when you pick up the tooth. It’s important not to touch the roots of the tooth with your fingers or the tooth may not be able to be implanted properly and will be lost permanently. Pick up the tooth by the crown area only.
The best way to transport the tooth to the Emergency Dentist is by holding the tooth in the patient’s mouth. The saliva in the mouth will help keep the tooth moist and more readily able to be re-secured. If this is not possible, then putting the tooth or pieces of tooth into a glass of milk is the next best thing. Do not ever put the tooth in a glass of water to either transport or to wash off. This will destroy the tooth and chances are, it will not be able to be put back into the mouth. If the gum is bleeding where the tooth was lost, fold a piece of sterile gauze and hold it in the mouth over the bleeding area on your way to the dentist.
Though a knocked out tooth can be a stressful time, it’s imperative that the above guidelines are followed, or the tooth can be destroyed and not able to be replanted. Luckily though, by following the proper procedure and acting in a timely manner, usually a knocked out tooth can be restored into the patient’s mouth.
