If you are dealing with a knocked-out tooth, emergency dentistry is crucial. It is one of those injuries that tend to occur at the worst possible times. Most people think that their damaged tooth is lost forever once it falls out, but that is not true.
Emergency dentistry includes treatments like re-attaching a knocked-out tooth. Knocked-out teeth can be reattached if you make it to a dentist within a couple of hours of the injury. When a tooth is knocked out, the first thing that you should do is to secure it and store it in saliva or in a glass of milk. Read on to learn more about how emergency dentistry can address a knocked-out tooth.
A knocked-out tooth counts as a dental emergency because the patient needs to get to a clinic within two hours of the injury for the best outcome. If they can make it to the clinic within that window, there is a good chance that a dentist will be able to reattach the tooth.
Leaving a knocked-out tooth untreated should never be an option because living with a missing tooth comes with severe consequences, like the remaining teeth moving out of their natural positions as they try to close the space created by the missing tooth.
A missing tooth can lead to the bone tissues around where it was anchored disintegrating due to not being stimulated. It can also cause aesthetic issues.
Things that people with missing teeth should do to increase the odds of a dentist being able to re-attach it include:
The dentist will examine the patient once they come to the clinic to determine how damaged the tooth is and whether it can be saved. The quicker that the patient gets to the clinic, the higher the chances of the dentist being able to re-attach the tooth. A tooth that is knocked out cleanly will be easier to re-attach than one that was fractured as it came out.
Re-attaching a knocked-out tooth typically involves using wires and other dental tools to hold the reattached tooth in place. These wires typically stay in the patient’s mouth for a few months before being removed. At that point, new bone tissues should be holding the tooth firmly in place, just like before. If the dentist cannot re-attach the tooth, other options, such as dental implants, will be explored.
Many patients may be dealing with a knocked-out tooth. Let us take a look at the answers to frequently asked questions that they might have.
If a tooth is knocked out, the first thing that the person should do is find it. Avoid touching the tooth’s root while handling it, since that can cause additional damage. Grab the tooth by its crown and gently rinse it in warm water. Do not use any soap or try to scrub or dry the tooth when cleaning it.
Try placing the tooth back in its socket if possible, but do not force it in. if the tooth cannot be repositioned in the mouth, store it in warm milk or saliva. Do not store the tooth in standard tap water because that can kill cells in the root if the tooth is left in it for prolonged periods. Head to a dentist immediately to get the tooth reattached. The earlier that the patient sees a dentist, the higher the odds of the tooth being successfully reattached.
It can take up to four weeks for the root of a knocked-out tooth to reattach to the bone tissues surrounding it in the tooth’s socket. If the bone structures around the tooth are also damaged, it can take up to eight weeks for the region to heal and for the tooth to be firmly reattached.
Our dental office can help with dental emergencies like a knocked-out tooth. Stop by or give us a call for urgent dental care.
Request an appointment here: https://www.texasstarsmiles.com or call Texas Star Smiles & Fastbraces at (254) 237-1342 for an appointment in our Killeen office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Emergency Dentist in Killeen, TX.
There is a brief window of opportunity in which an emergency dentist may be able to save a tooth that gets knocked out. The chances are better within 30 minutes after the injury and start to decrease after an hour, so prompt treatment is key. There are things you can do before seeing the dentist…
If a patient has cracked, chipped, or broken a tooth, a licensed emergency dentist can provide quick relief in a variety of ways and ultimately repair the tooth to make it look whole again. This type of tooth damage can happen to anyone, but a person may be more at risk for this type of…
Without question, a toothache is one of the most unpleasant experiences. If you have ever had one, which you probably have, you understand. However, like a lot of other people, you might not always recognize the associated symptoms. Learning what these are will help you know when to schedule a visit to a dental clinic.Every…
Dental crises that require an emergency dentist can happen to anyone at any time. Sometimes they are a result of a traumatic injury. Other times, they may be because of complications after surgery. There can be a fine line between what constitutes a dental emergency and a situation that warrants making an appointment with your…
When it comes to achieving a beautiful and confident smile, the expertise of an implant dentist is essential. Smile makeovers are a comprehensive dental procedure involving restoring and improving a patient's teeth and gums. With the latest advancements in dentistry, patients can achieve their dream smiles with the help of a dentist who specializes in…
Do you need a dental implant? Read on to learn more about this type of dental restoration. Removable partial dentures and a fixed dental bridge not supported by implants are not considered permanent restorations. However, a dental implant restoration is considered permanent, as it essentially uses the same structure as a natural tooth.The benefits of…