A knocked-out tooth is one of the most urgent dental emergencies there is, and the minutes right after it happens matter more than most people realize. If you or someone with you has just lost a tooth, please call us at Local Dentist Bellingham right away. While you're getting to us, here's exactly what you need to do to give that tooth the best possible chance of being saved.
The window for successfully reimplanting a knocked-out tooth is narrow. According to the American Association of Endodontists, you should see a dentist within 30 minutes of the injury. The longer the tooth stays out of the socket, the lower the chances of saving it. So read through these steps quickly and act fast.
As soon as the tooth comes out, find it. Pick it up by the crown, which is the white part that's normally visible when you smile. Do not touch the root. The root has delicate cells attached to it that are critical for successful reimplantation, and handling it can damage those cells and reduce the chances of saving the tooth.
If the tooth is visibly dirty, rinse it briefly with clean water or milk. Do not scrub it, do not use soap, and do not wrap it in tissue or cloth. You're just removing surface debris, not cleaning it thoroughly. Keep the rinse short and gentle.
This is the most important step. If at all possible, gently place the tooth back into the socket it came from, root first. Use light finger pressure or bite down softly on a clean piece of gauze to hold it in place while you get to our office. The sooner the tooth is back in the socket, the better the outcome is likely to be.
If the tooth won't go back in without forcing it, don't push it. Move to the next step instead.
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If you can't reinsert the tooth, keeping it moist is the most important thing you can do. The cells on the root begin to die quickly when they dry out. Your best options are to place the tooth in milk, hold it between your cheek and gum, or use an emergency tooth preservation kit if one is available. Do not store it in regular tap water, as that can damage the root cells over time.
Call us at Local Dentist Bellingham as you're heading out the door. Let us know what happened so we can be ready for you when you arrive. We treat knocked-out teeth as the emergencies they are, and we'll do everything we can to get you seen right away.
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If it's a baby tooth that's been knocked out rather than a permanent tooth, the steps above are a little different. Baby teeth are generally not reimplanted because doing so can interfere with the permanent tooth developing underneath. That said, you should still contact us right away. We'll want to examine the area to make sure there's no damage to the surrounding tissue or the permanent tooth below, and we'll let you know whether any treatment is needed.
When you arrive, we'll take a look at the tooth and the socket, get any X-rays we need, and assess whether reimplantation is possible and appropriate. If the tooth can be saved, we'll reinsert it and stabilize it so it has the best chance of healing. We'll also talk through what follow-up care looks like and what to watch for in the days ahead.
If reimplantation isn't possible, we won't leave you without options. We can discuss what the path forward looks like, whether that involves a dental implant, a bridge, or another solution that fits your situation.
Related: How to Find a Reliable Bellingham Emergency Dentist When You Need One
The best thing you can do right now, before anything goes wrong, is save our number in your phone. Knowing exactly who to call at the moment means you're not wasting precious time searching while you're already stressed and in pain.
If you're not yet a patient at our office, we'd love to be your dental home in Bellingham. Reach out to us today to get established and to learn more about the emergency services we offer. We're here for you when it counts most.
