Lost tooth? Act quick!
Losing a tooth is a scary experience, but it's not uncommon. Whether you have lost a tooth from a sports injury, an accident, or other facial trauma, knocking a tooth out can be painful and overwhelming. In the event of a tooth being knocked out, it's important to know what steps to take and act quickly.
Here are some things you should do if you have knocked a tooth out:
- Pick it - If you are able to find the tooth, pick it up by the top part of the tooth (the crown). Avoid touching the root as this can damage the cells that aid in re-attachment.
- Lick it - If the tooth is dirty, either lick it to clean with your saliva or rinse under cold water for no longer than 10 seconds.
- Stick it - try to put the tooth back into position and gently bite down on some tissue.
- If you are struggling to re-place the tooth in the gum, gently place and store the tooth in a glass of milk.
- Book an emergency appointment and visit a dentist as soon as possible. Time is of essence when re-attaching a knocked out tooth.
Baby teeth
If you have lost a baby tooth, do not put this back into the gum. You could damage the tooth growing underneath. If you are concerned about the lost tooth or experiencing pain, book an appointment to see your Hadleigh Dental Surgery dentist ASAP.
If you are not sure if its a baby tooth or adult tooth, place it in milk and take it along to an emergency appointment with your Hadleigh Dental Surgery dentists ASAP.
What the dentist will do
If you put the tooth back in, we will check it's in the right place and move it if they need to.
If you brought the tooth in milk, your dentist will clean it and put it back in.
We'll then fix the tooth to the teeth either side of it to hold it in place (known as splinting). You'll probably then need to come back after a couple of weeks to have the splint removed.
If you cannot find the tooth or your dentist is not able to save it, it can normally be replaced with a false tooth.
Emergency dental appointments
If you have knocked a tooth out, it is important to get emergency dental treatment ASAP. Contact Hadleigh Dental Surgery on 01473 823092 as soon as possible and explain what has happened. For out of hours emergency dental care in Hadleigh, give us a call on the usual number and follow the instructions.
At you emergency appointment your dentist will assess you and may treat any facial injury. However, treatment may be limited if there is any bruising or bleeding. They may take x-rays and will check if the tooth has been re-implanted successfully. You will probably need more appointments for follow-up treatment.
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If you have a suffered a knocked out tooth in Hadleigh or surrounding areas, call us immediately on 01473 823092.
To find out more or learn how to best manage any related dental pain, visit Dental Trauma UK.
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