What happens if my tooth is knocked out?

Accidents happen, it’s a fact of life. One of the most common types of injury is a knocked out tooth. A knocked out tooth is known as an avulsed tooth by dentists. Sports injuries, accidents, and other factors may cause you to have a knocked out tooth.

Tips to Save Your Tooth

What happens if your tooth is knocked out? Here are some tips to help your doctor save your tooth.

• Pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root. The crown is the chewing part of the tooth. This helps prevent any damage to the root.
• If the tooth is dirty, rinse it in clean water. Do not use any toothpaste or soap, and do not brush or scrub the tooth.
• Reposition the tooth back into the socket if possible. Place the tooth gently into the socket and push it in with your fingers or bite down slowly. Hold it in place on your way to the doctor.
• If you can’t reposition the tooth back into the socket, keep it moist at all times. Use an emergency kit such as Save a Tooth, a glass of milk, or hold the tooth in your cheek on the way to the doctor. Don’t use tap water as it can damage the root of your tooth.
• Get to your dentist within 30 minutes if possible. While 30 minutes is the optimum amount of time, even if you can’t make it within that time frame your doctor may still be able to save your tooth.

Treatment for a Knocked Out Tooth

If your tooth is not cracked, it may bond back to your jaw naturally. Your doctor will splint the tooth back into the socket with fine wires or composite. Depending on your case your doctor may also want to do a root canal to repair any damage to the tooth. Your tooth should heal within three to four weeks. If damage was done to the surrounding tissues, it may take six to eight weeks to heal. If no infection is present then your doctor will want to check the tooth in about three to six months. Once it is healed your tooth is healed, your doctor will check it at your regular dental checkups.

While a knocked out tooth may be painful and scary, but most of the time your tooth can be saved if you act quickly and get to your doctor as soon as you can. If you need emergency dental care, call or contact us right away.