When a tooth is knocked out

What to do when a tooth is knocked out??? First of all it is very different if it is a baby tooth or a permanent adult tooth.

Baby tooth knocked out

 First of all make sure that the tooth is found , and that the child has not accidentally swallowed the tooth.

Also check all the lips and tongue and soft tissue around the mouth to make sure it has not been damaged from the trauma.

 Usually if it is a baby tooth then do not put the tooth back in to its place and is best to let a dentist check the adult tooth comes through at the right time and place.

However find the tooth, Hold the tooth by the crown end ONLY and not the ROOT end ( the longer part )

 store it in either milk, saliva of the patient or water .

then bring it all to the dentist and they will check if it is worth saving it, based on age

Adult tooth knocked out

 Once again it is vital the tooth is found.

 Hold the tooth by the crown end ONLY and not the ROOT end ( the longer part )

 Option 1

 If you can replace the tooth back in to its position then hold the tooth by the crown end, make sure it is clean if necessary wash it with milk, the patients saliva or water .

 Replace the tooth back in to the hole and hold it in place with a tissue and get to a dentist .

Studies have shown that a tooth re implanted within 2 hours has a better chance of reintegrating with the bone.

Option 2

 If you cant replace the tooth, then Hold the tooth by the crown end ONLY and not the ROOT end ( the longer part ) and place the tooth in a container with milk, the patients saliva or water.

Then get to a dentist and they can re implant the tooth

The quicker this is put back in to the jaw the more likely this will be successful .

Depending on the age of the patient and the amount of trauma will decide on how the dentist treats the tooth.

Usually the dentist will recommend the following

1. soft diet  for 7-10 days
2. mouthwash to prevent bacterial infection
3. soft brushing of the area
4. the dentist will place a wire splint round the back of the teeth that were knocked out
5. to hold it in place for 7-10 days .this will stabilise the teeth
6. review the tooth and may need root canal treatment, depending on the age of the patient
7. painkillers as needed

What to do if you fracture your front tooth?

 First of all see if you can find the piece that has broken. If it has broken in a clean way then store the piece in milk or the patients saliva and then get to a dentist as soon as you can.

 The dentist can either use the broken tooth and use cosmetic techniques to make it look like the fracture never happened.

Or the dentist can rebuild the tooth using composite white filling material to make it look like the tooth was never missing.

The dentist has to make sure that the nerve inside the tooth has not been damaged and can take x-rays to check that the condition of the tooth and nerve is healthy.

In the future the signs of a damaged nerve is

1. discolouration of the fractured tooth
2. pain or swelling around the tooth
3. change in the appearance from an x-ray

Photos to show fractured tooth reapired using the piece that broke off

 This was from a 13 year old boy who had a hit in the face and broke his front tooth. His mum kept the piece that broke and stored it in saliva of the patient .

The piece was reattached and designed with a cement that matches his own teeth perfectly.