Tooth Tips for Later Life

Steps To Take When Dealing With an Avulsed Tooth

Avulsed teeth are what dentist refer to when talking about permanent teeth that have been knocked out. This dental problem constitutes a medical emergency because if the tooth is not restored as soon as possible, the patient would have to consider replacement treatments such as dentures, tooth bridges or an implant. Nevertheless, teeth avulsions tend to be a common problem making it essential to know how best to handle the situation. Below are some of the steps to take if you or a loved one has one of their teeth knocked out:

Step 1: Secure the tooth

The first thing that you should do is collect the tooth but ensure that you handle it as carefully as possible. A mistake some people make is touching the root, which can cause damage to it, and would prevent implantation. Hold the avulsed tooth by the crown and gently rinse it under warm water to eliminate any dirt that may have come into contact with it. You should never attempt to scrape off any foreign matter off the tooth, and neither should you use medicated spirit or alcohol to clean it.

Step 2: Attempt re-insertion

Before trying to re-insert the tooth, you should ensure that the patient's mouth has been cleaned with warm water. The tooth socket should be clean to avoid debris from being caught between the tooth and the gums. If re-insertion is successful, the patient should bite down on a sterilised gauze as they await medical attention. If you find that you are unable to reinsert the tooth, you should store in it a container that has been filled with whole milk. The milk will prevent the root of the tooth from drying out.

Step 3: Attend to the symptoms

Depending on how the tooth was knocked out, the patient may suffer from various symptoms. If the tooth was knocked out due to trauma, chances are there will be some heavy bleeding, as well as swelling. The bleeding can be controlled using a sterilised gauze that will prevent bacteria from making its way into the tooth socket. If the patient has developed swelling, cold compresses can be applied to the affected area. Pain can be managed by ingesting a paracetamol.

Step 4: Seek dental care

If a tooth is to be implanted successfully, it would be prudent to see a dental professional as soon as possible. The dentist will then try to return the tooth into the socket and secure it with a splint to ensure it does not slip out of place. In some cases, a root canal may be prudent for successful implantation to occur.

Contact an emergency dentist for more information and assistance.