You’ve Lost an Adult Tooth – Now What?

Whether you’ve had an accident during a sports game or you’ve had an accident and fallen over, losing an adult tooth in this way is never easy. Whether your tooth has been knocked out or broken, it’s imperative that you visit a dental professional as soon as possible.

Today, we take a look at the steps you should take if this unfortunate situation has happened to you, in order to minimise any discomfort and improve the chances of saving your natural tooth.

Knocked Out Teeth

If your tooth has been knocked out, there is a slim chance that it can still be saved! Following these instructions and bringing your tooth to an oral surgeon within 30 minutes will give you the best chance at tooth restoration.

To avoid damaging the tooth even more, make sure you handle the tooth carefully. Try not to touch the root and only handle the tooth by touching the chewing surface. The root of your tooth can be damaged easily when exposed.

Do not wipe the tooth with a cloth or other fabric. If it’s dirty, just rinse it under some full cream milk, or if you don’t have milk rinse it with water. The most important step is to keep the tooth moist, so submerge it in milk, however if you don’t have milk available water will do.

Once you arrive at the dentist, putting the tooth back in place can be a simple process. Other times, it can be much more complicated. Your dentist will flush out any debris from the socket with water, and then slip the tooth back into place. Depending on how long the tooth was out of the mouth and other factors will dictate the next steps taken.

In any case, it’s important to visit your dentist and attempt to re-implant the tooth as soon as possible, ideally within an hour of the incident. In some cases, the tooth may not be saved, and your dentist will discuss your options.

Broken Teeth

If you break a tooth, it’s important that you contact your dentist or oral surgeon right away. Before your visit, gently rinse your mouth out with water, then bite on gauze or a damp tea bag to stop any bleeding. Use an icepack to reduce swelling and minimise pain.

While losing teeth can occur due to accidents, it can also occur due to a lack of proper dental care. Regular visits to your dentist and proper treatment can help reduce the chances of broken teeth due to cavities.

Contact your friendly dentists at Dental on Clarendon today to arrange an appointment.