3 APPROACHES TO DEAL WITH A KNOCKED-OUT TOOTH

A knocked-out (avulsed) tooth is a dental emergency that requires immediate action. Teeth can only survive for so long outside their tooth sockets (dental alveoli). But sometimes, it isn't always possible to re-implant a tooth after an accident. Fortunately, you have several options available to you, ranging from the short-term to the long-term.

Short-Term: Replace the Tooth Within an Hour

If you find your tooth after your accident and it is still intact, the best thing to do is re-implant it immediately. The longer your tooth is out of its socket, the longer it goes without the blood supply and nutrients essential to its survival. Ideally, you need to re-implant the tooth within an hour. You longer you wait, the more likely your avulsed tooth is to die.

You have two options: replace the tooth yourself, or have an emergency dentist do it for you.

Replace the Tooth Yourself

To replace an avulsed tooth yourself, make sure that you rinse off any dirt or debris. Use saline solution for this, if possible, as this is gentler on the sensitive tooth root than tap water. Hold the tooth by the crown, never by the root, and gently reposition it back into its socket. Don't force the tooth back in; you could damage the root.

Have an Emergency Dentist Replace the Tooth for You

If you can't replace the tooth yourself, place it in a Ziploc bag in saliva or milk. Saliva or milk will both keep the tooth moist so that the periodontal ligament doesn't dry out and die, preventing re-implantation. But if you don't have a Ziploc bag or other container, hold the tooth in your mouth between the soft area of your cheek and gum. This will help the tooth survive.

Then you need to get to an emergency dental appointment within an hour.

Medium-Term: Replace the Tooth With a Denture

If you are unable to re-implant the tooth in time, then you could replace the tooth with a denture, but you should know that this is not a permanent solution. When you lose a tooth, your body senses the loss. Your body will then begin to resorb the bone that once surrounded the lost tooth's root. Although you'll be able to smile and eat normally, the bone loss can change the shape of your face.  

As a result of the subsequent bone loss, a denture is a good temporary replacement. This is useful if your finances or personal situation don't allow for a dental implant. But, if possible, aim to replace the denture with a dental implant in the near future.

Long-Term: Replace the Tooth With a Dental Implant

The most effective and long-lasting tooth replacement option is a dental implant. A dental implant consists of a titanium screw that sits inside the jawbone and integrates with the bone and a porcelain crown that attaches to an abutment on the screw.

A dental implant can last a lifetime if you care for it. But, as mentioned earlier, bone loss occurs after tooth loss. So you should replace a lost tooth with a dental implant as soon as possible. In fact, once your jawbone has healed after your accident is the best time to seek to replace the tooth with a dental implant.

If you wait too long, you might not have enough remaining bone for the dental implant. You'll then need a bone graft to add sufficient bone to the tooth socket and the surrounding area. Since a bone graft takes several months to heal, this could add several months onto your treatment time. If you want to replace your avulsed tooth with a dental implant then, act quickly.

Have you waited too long to replace an avulsed tooth? Don't panic. You can still replace that tooth with a dental implant. Bradley Piotrowski, DDS, MSD, LLC, has provided premium dental care to his patients since 2001. If you want a long-term replacement for your knocked out tooth, contact us today to begin the journey back to a full and attractive smile.