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Knocked Out a Tooth? Here’s What to Do!

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Did you know that more than five million teeth are knocked out every year in children and adults? It may happen after sustaining a blow to the face or from an accidental injury, such as tripping and falling on the sidewalk. However, just because your tooth is knocked-out doesn’t necessarily mean it’s gone for good. As long as you act quickly, your tooth can be re-implanted successfully and last years to come! That said, here’s a step-by-step on what to do after you’ve knocked out a tooth in Sebastian.  

Carefully Pick Up the Tooth

First things first, you should locate the knocked-out tooth. Once you find it, be sure to pick it up by the crown (chewing surface) only – not by the root. Handle it carefully and stay away from any connective tissues. That way, your dentist has a much better chance of successfully re-implanting the tooth.

Gently Clean the Tooth

If your tooth was knocked out while you were playing a sport, it likely fell on the ground and got dirty. In that case, you should gently rinse the tooth in question with water. Do not use soap or any other harsh chemicals! Additionally, you want to avoid scrubbing the tooth, drying it, or wrapping it in a tissue or cloth.

Re-Implant the Tooth

You can try and position the tooth in the socket immediately after it fell out if possible. Handle the tooth by the crown, and gently push it into the socket with your fingers. Alternatively, you can position it above the socket and close your mouth slowly. While you wait to see your dentist, hold the tooth in place with your fingers or gently bite down on it.

Preserve the Tooth

Unable to place the tooth back in the socket? No problem at all! Since the tooth must stay moist at all times, you should put it in milk or saline solution to preserve it while you get to your dentist. You can also use an emergency tooth preservation kit if you have one on hand. Do not use regular tap water to keep your tooth safe! It will only do more harm than good as the root surface cells cannot tolerate it for an extended time.

Visit Your Dentist

Contact your dentist immediately following the incident and make an emergency appointment. Ideally, you should see them within 30 minutes of the injury. Don’t forget to bring the tooth with you to the dental office! Depending on your case, your dentist may be able to salvage it and re-implant it.

Have you recently knocked out a tooth in Sebastian? Take a deep breath, and remain calm. By following the steps outlined above, you’ll get your smile back to normal in no time!

About the Practice

At Sebastian Dental, we want to make every dental appointment as enjoyable and convenient as possible. Our goal is to take all the stress out of dental care! We’ll do everything we can to get your smile in its very best shape. If you’ve recently knocked out a tooth, don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance. Visit our website or call (772) 388-0088 to schedule an emergency appointment!

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