Tooth Loss in Trauma

Have you ever wondered if knocked out teeth can be fixed?

Unlike a bone that can heal from a fracture, a lost tooth will not grow back. Handling this kind of accident properly and promptly is critical to saving the tooth. Sports participation can boost the risk; however, teens and young adults can also injure their teeth in car accidents and falls.

Reattaching an avulsed tooth

A tooth that is knocked out of a person’s mouth is called an avulsed tooth. Time is of the essence in this situation; re-implanting the tooth as quickly as possible allows the best chance of the tooth being re-accepted and therefore complete healing.

Following such an accident, dentists recommend these instructions in order to increase chances to keep the avulsed tooth: A tooth that fell out in which structure is maintained without any deep fracture, or a tooth that is completely avulsed in one piece, can be re-implanted in its socket within 1 hour after the accident for best chances for it to remain in position. If the root of an adult tooth is fractured during trauma, then the chances of reimplanting the tooth are hopeless. Any attempt to restore it will lead to failure.

The first thing to determine as a parent is whether or not the tooth is a primary or permanent tooth. If it is a baby tooth, then there is no need to attempt to reimplant it.

What to do with an avulsed tooth

The best therapeutic option is when re-implantation is carried out at the site where the accident occurred, within a few minutes. The tooth should be placed in the socket by an adult. If the tooth is in its exact position, so that it does not move when the person bites his teeth together, the process can be successful.

If the tooth is dirty, it is important that the patient cleans it with his own saliva by putting it in his mouth. The tooth should then be removed from the mouth and the patient should spit out all blood and dirt. While spitting hard, you can remove the blood clot that could have formed in the socket, which can make the re-implantation of the tooth easier. When the tooth is clean enough, it should be quickly put in the socket.

If the tooth cannot be repositioned in its place for one reason or another, then it should be

transported to the dentist as soon as possible. There are several ways to do so.

Taking an avulsed tooth to the dentist

First things first: If a lost tooth is truly missing, it’s important to locate the tooth right away. Once the tooth has been located, the tooth should be cleaned with saliva. The person who had the accident must then keep the tooth in his or her mouth, either under the tongue or between the cheek and back teeth, of course without chewing on it. Do not touch the root or scrub any part of the tooth, and do not use soap or other cleansers. If the patient is young child under the age of eight who has lost his tooth, it should not be kept in his mouth because he can swallow it.

The success of re-implantation depends on keeping special ligament cells on the root’s surface moist and alive — if these cells dry out, they will die and the tooth will not be accepted back into the gums.

After cleaning with saliva, the tooth can rather be put it in a saline solution (water and salt). Half-teaspoon of salt must be mixed in a cup of water. It is better to use bottled water if it is available immediately, but tap water is also acceptable. Get the patient and the tooth in the saline solution to the dentist as soon as possible.

If the right steps are taken on time, chances of a successful re-implantation are good. You just have to stay away from the tooth for a couple of weeks. After the procedure, there is the possibility of infection, so a short course of antibiotics is usually prescribed. Even with the best response, however, a lost tooth may still be rejected by the body down the road. To monitor for this condition, the patient should follow up with their dentist for at least five years following re-implantation of a lost tooth.

Even in less than ideal situations, tooth re-implantation can work and should always be attempted. Saving a natural tooth is definitely the treatment of choice.