What To Do When You Lose a Tooth

When it comes to tooth removal, there are really only two ways to do it: 1) go to your dentist to have a carefully planned surgical procedure to extract the tooth or 2) experience a traumatic event that results in the tooth falling out. Some of the most common ways to lose a tooth include:

• Accidental falls
• Sports-related trauma
• Fighting
• Car accidents
• Biting on hard food

Losing a permanent tooth is always a dental emergency and never something you want to take lightly or dismiss. The sooner you get the tooth and yourself to the dentist, the more likely your dentist will be able to save the tooth. Here are a few things you should do to have the best chance of saving the tooth: 

1. Find the tooth!
2. Pick it up by the crown (top portion) of the tooth , NOT the fleshy root. If the tooth does look dirty, use sterile saline solutions, milk or saliva. Do NOT scrub the root or touch it. You could end up compromising the vital tissue and cause the tooth to die.
3. Preserve the tooth for transport to the dentist in one of the following ways:
• Try to put the tooth back in its socket so it is level with the other teeth. Bite down gently on a gauze or a clean washcloth until you get to the dentist. Be careful not to swallow the tooth.
• If the tooth will not go back in place, put it in a clean container with milk or saline solution. Do NOT put it in water. Water does not preserve the tooth as well which will make it less likely that the tooth can be saved and re-implanted.
• If you do not have a container handy, you can also carry the tooth tucked in between your gums and cheek or under your tongue. Again, be sure not to swallow the tooth.
• If you have a home emergency medical kit, you can preemptively purchase a tooth saving storage device like Save-A-Tooth or EMT Tooth Saver. It may be worth it to have a kit like this handy (especially if you have kids in sports) just in case an accident happens. These kits run at about $12 to $20 and have the potential to save you thousands of dollars replacing the tooth with an implant.
  
  
  
4. Go to the dentist immediately! Here at Kingsland Dental, we always have a doctor on call. Simply call our office at (281)646-8888 to let us know about your dental emergency and that you are on your way. If it is after hours or on the weekend, our phones roll over to an answering service where a live person can direct your call and arrange for the on call doctor to see you. If, for whatever reason, you are unable to reach the dentist, you can always go to an emergency medical hospital.

What if my child's baby tooth falls out?

If a baby tooth falls out, definitely bring them in to see the dentist, however, there really is no point in putting the tooth back in. The best thing to do is comfort your child and make sure they are not in pain. Then, call the dentist for an emergency visit. The dentist will not be able to save the tooth but they can give your child antibiotics to prevent an infection and in severe cases they may give pain relievers to make them feel better. It may also be necessary to get a space maintainer. This device keeps the surrounding teeth from crowding into the newly formed gap and allows space for the future permanent tooth to grow.

What if my tooth does not come all the way out but feels loose?

It is still necessary to visit your dentist. Letting your dentist take a look greatly increases the chances that they can save the tooth from dying or falling out later and make sure that you do not get an infection.

Tips for Prevention:

• Wear a mouth guard when playing any contact sport*
• Avoid fights
• Avoid hard foods such as bones, stale bread, unpopped popcorn kernels, etc.
• Always wear a seat belt

*According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the list of sports with the most common dental injuries includes football, basketball, baseball/softball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding, gymnastics, and martial arts. A mouth guard should be a standard part of the uniform for these sports. If you or your child finds that a store-bought mouth guard is not comfortable, you can get a customized one from your dentist.

Remember: Losing a permanent tooth is always a dental emergency. Seeing your dentist as soon as possible gives you the best chance to save the tooth and stave off the possibility of infection. Even if the tooth cannot be saved, your dentist will be able to give you options to replace the missing tooth in order to prevent the open space from effecting the rest of your teeth.

If you have any questions or are experiencing a dental emergency, call us at (281)646-8888.

Sources:

Health Day

Medline Plus