Can A Knocked Out Tooth Be Saved?

Accidents or injuries sometimes result in a knocked out tooth. Dental trauma can happen to anyone, and the experience may be frightening. But rest assured that in many cases the knocked out tooth can be saved, as long as you know what to do. Follow these instructions for a knocked out tooth to increase the chances of saving it. 

What To Do For a Knocked Out Tooth 

Time is of the essence in this situation, so follow these steps and remember them for the future: 

1. Locate the tooth. Find the tooth if at all possible. It could still be in your mouth, so avoid swallowing until you locate the missing tooth. 
2. Pick it up by the crown, avoid touching the root. Once you have found the tooth, pick it up by the crown of the tooth. Avoid touching the root because it can be easily damaged. 
3. Rinse the tooth. Plug the drain of your sink and only if visibly soiled, carefully rinse the tooth in lukewarm water, still holding it by the crown only. If not soiled or dirty , put immediately back in the socket.
4. Place the tooth back in the socket. Attempt to place the tooth back in the socket in the right position. 
5. Bite down on some clean gauze. If you are able to get the tooth back into the socket, bite down on some clean gauze to hold the tooth in place and stop the bleeding if necessary. 
6. Put the tooth in a cup of milk. If you are unable to get the tooth back into the socket, place it in a cup of milk. Avoid soaking it in water, which can cause damage to the tooth. 
7. Call Forest Lake Endodontics. Call us as soon as possible. When a tooth has been knocked out of the socket, there is limited time it can still be saved, refer to our office, or endodontic practice to at least evaluate. There is a better chance of saving it if you were able to place it back in the socket. 

How is a Knocked Out Tooth Treated?

Treatment for a knocked out tooth varies based on the situation. If the tooth is still in good condition it can be splinted to the other teeth to stabilize it while the support structures tighten back down to hold it in place. In many cases the tooth will need a root canal because damage to the tooth may have affected the dental pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth that is made up of blood vessels and nerves. If the dental pulp is damaged, it must be removed and replaced with a type of filler material that can fortify the tooth and prevent infection. 

When is a Knocked Out Tooth Unable to Be Saved?

A knocked out tooth can not always be saved. Certain situations can lead to permanent loss of the tooth, such as: 

• If the tooth has been out of the mouth for too long, it dries out and is unable to be placed back in the socket. 
• If the tooth has sustained too much damage, it may not be saved. 
• If there is damage to the root of the tooth it can’t be saved in most cases. 
• If the tooth doesn’t get a root canal when needed, it may not survive. 

Forest Lake Endodontics Provides Emergency Services

A knocked out tooth is considered a dental emergency. Forest Lake Endodontics provides emergency services that can save a knocked out tooth in many cases, as long as you contact us in time. We can help stabilize the tooth and perform an emergency root canal if needed. 

Call 651-464-9888 right away in case of a dental emergency. We will provide treatment during and after regular office hours.