Dental emergencies can happen to anyone at any time. These are situations in which a patient will need to seek immediate help with a dental professional. One common experience during high impact sports or trauma to the mouth area is a knocked-out tooth. For children, a knocked-out tooth may not be an issue as it is likely a baby tooth they would lose eventually anyway. However, an adult tooth that has been knocked out of the mouth due to impact will need to be reattached by a dentist.
What should I do if I knock out a tooth?
Time is of the essence when a permanent, adult tooth has been knocked out from the socket.
- Immediately place the tooth in the socket and hold it there until you can get to the dental office. Hold the visible part of the tooth and not disrupt the root.
- If the tooth is dirty, rinse it while holding the crown and place into the socket. Do not use any chemicals such as peroxide or alcohol.
- Do not use too much pressure while holding the tooth in the socket on the way to the dentist.
- Teeth that cannot be held in the socket will need to be soaked in milk or saliva and brought with the patient within approximately one hour.
- Contact the dentist as soon as possible to let him know you are on the way to the practice for treatment of a knocked-out tooth.
By taking great care in handling the tooth root on the way to the dental office, you can improve the chances of the tooth being saved and reattached in the socket. However, if replacement fails, tooth replacement solutions will be discussed by our dental professionals.
Interested in learning about emergency dentistry?
At Drs of Smiles Gentle Family Dentistry, our team of professionals work with patients to address many dental emergencies and can assist those who have ever been to our office before. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, we encourage you to book an appointment at (480) 834-6991 to connect with our dental team in Mesa, AZ. Drs. Scott LeSueur, Charles Dodaro, and Glenn LeSueur are happy to assist both children and patients in their time of need.
We are open 6 days a week, Monday through Saturday, with a doctor on call for after-hour emergencies.