A knocked-out tooth (tooth avulsion) is considered a dental emergency, and should be taken care of right away. Dr. Sung and Dr. Nguyen of Grand Mission Dentistry can help! If your tooth has been knocked out, here’s what to do to save your smile and minimize pain:
1. Don’t Panic, Make An Appointment At Grand Mission Dentistry Immediately
When it comes to saving your tooth, time is of the essence. As soon as your tooth is knocked out of your mouth, the connection with your blood vessels and nerves is severed, and the tooth will begin to die. To save it, it must be re-implanted properly within 1-2 hours.
The first thing you should do in the event of a knocked-out tooth is to give Grand Mission Dentistry a call. Tell us about the situation, and let us know you’re coming in. We always have space for emergency walk-ins, so we’ll be prepared and ready to help.
2. Recover Your Tooth, Clean It, And Preserve It
If your tooth has been knocked out onto the dirt, or if it contacted any debris, you will want to clean it and rinse it off. Simply run it underneath a gentle stream of warm water. Do not use hot water, and do not use any kind of soap or other detergent, as this could kill the tooth. Clean off any visible dirt or debris.
After this, the best option is typically to re-insert the tooth into the socket from which it was knocked out. Simply place the tooth in the proper orientation into the socket. If this is not possible, or you find yourself unable to do so, place the tooth in a small baggie or container of cold milk. This will help preserve it until your appointment.
3. Mitigate Your Pain, Discomfort, And Bleeding
If you’ve replaced your tooth in the socket, you can use a piece of gauze or a cotton ball to help keep it in place. Bite down on the cotton to keep the tooth from moving excessively. This will also help stop any bleeding, and hold the tooth in place.
You can take an over-the-counter pain medication like acetaminophen, naproxen or ibuprofen to treat some of your pain and swelling. Avoid taking aspirin, as it thins the blood and can prevent clotting. An external ice pack or compress can also be placed on the cheek over the affected area to help with pain and swelling.
4. Come In For Your Appointment At Grand Mission Dentistry
Come into our office as soon as you can. Dr. Sung or Dr. Nguyen will look at your mouth and assess the best treatment for you. They may choose to splint the tooth in place, to allow it to heal and reconnect with the surrounding tissue. A root canal may also be needed after this process is complete, to avoid infection of the tooth.
If the tooth has been outside of the mouth for more than 60 minutes, or has not been properly cared for, it may not be possible to save it, and if the splint does not work, restorative replacement with a partial denture, a dental bridge, or a dental implant may be recommended by one of our doctors.
Know What To Do When Your Tooth Is Knocked Out – See Us ASAP!
Time is of the utmost importance for saving your tooth. If you ever have one of your teeth knocked out, call us at (281) 789-8836 or come to our office at 8620 Grand Mission Blvd, Suite #E, Richmond, TX 77407. We’ll provide you with fast, professional care, and do our best to preserve your natural tooth.