Can Your Knocked-Out Tooth Be Saved?

According to the American Association of Endodontics, more than five million teeth are knocked out every year in children and adults. However, a tooth that is lost due to an accidental injury doesn’t always mean it is lost for good. There is a time limit and specific steps to follow, but it is possible to save your knocked-out tooth. With proper emergency action on your part, your dentist can successfully replant an avulsed tooth!

Follow These Tooth-Saving Steps

Whether it is a bad fall or mouth injury during sports, a healthy tooth can become dislodged and fall out. When this occurs, it’s best if you act within 30 to 60 minutes if you want to increase your chances of saving the knocked-out tooth.

1. Call your emergency dentist to tell them you are on the way.
2. Pick up your tooth by the crown (not the root).
3. Clean a dirty tooth gently with plain water.
4. Keep the tooth moist. If possible, place the tooth back in its socket. Otherwise, store the tooth in a cup of milk or inside your cheek so it can stay moist with your saliva.
5. Get to your emergency dentist!

When You Don’t Save Your Tooth

It isn’t always easy to save a knocked-out tooth, and that’s okay. Though it is ideal to save your natural tooth, modern dentistry offers some remarkable alternatives to replace a missing or lost tooth. You won’t have to suffer the consequences of a missing tooth. There are restorative options such as bridges and dental implants that can mimic your natural tooth in appearance, function and feel.

Call an Emergency Dentist in Alexandria

Did you lose a tooth during a dental-related accident? Call a trusted emergency dentist in Alexandria. At Green Dental of Alexandria, we take pride in being available to our patients for emergency dental care. Please give us a call as soon as possible so that we can restore your smile!