Life can come at you pretty fast, and no matter where you are or what you’re doing, the possibility of experiencing a dental emergency exists. But you don’t have to live in fear of these situations; if you ever find yourself with a knocked-out tooth or some other type of urgent situation involving your smile, a little quick thinking and contacting your emergency dentist can ensure you don’t suffer any long-term consequences! Here are 4 easy-to-follow steps to keep in mind if you unexpectedly knock out one of your pearly whites.
1. Locate & Secure the Tooth
Locate the lost tooth; it needs to come with you to your emergency appointment! When picking it up, be sure to handle it by the chewing surface rather than the roots. You might be able to replace it in the socket by holding it in place with your fingers and gently biting down on it. If this isn’t working at first, do not try to force it in.
2. Rinse the Tooth
If the tooth is very dirty, you can rinse it with milk or tap water—do not clean it with disinfectant, soapy water, or any other type of cleaner. Be sure that you aren’t scrubbing the tooth or letting it dry out either, and don’t wrap it in a tissue or cloth. Instead, place it in a small plastic container or plastic wrap. You can also keep the tooth in milk; just ensure that it’s moist at all times.
3. Call Your Dentist
Your tooth has the best chance of being replaced within 30 to 60 minutes of falling out, so time is of the essence. However, it’s still sometimes possible to save a tooth even if it’s been outside the mouth for over an hour. In any case, you need to call your dentist promptly and explain what happened, and they’ll let you know when you need to come in. Emergency dentists typically have time built into their daily schedules to address urgent situations, so don’t worry about inconveniencing them! Even if it’s after-hours, you can still call them and let them know about the situation.
4. Protect Your Smile
After your appointment has been scheduled, it falls on you to protect your tooth, as well as the rest of your smile, until you arrive. Once your tooth has been properly situated for travel, you can address any oral bleeding with a clean handkerchief or gauze coupled with gentle pressure. Avoid taking any medication containing aspirin, as this can worsen the bleeding. If for some reason you’re unable to arrange emergency dental care, you can visit an ER for symptom relief, though you should keep in mind that most hospital staffs aren’t fully equipped for handling dental emergencies and can usually only provide symptom relief.
About the Practice
The team at Klassik Smiles is thrilled to provide an exceptional level of dental care for patients and families in the St. Peters, MO area. Under the leadership of Dr. Kamlesh Makwana, they’re proud to offer a wide range of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatment options as well as emergency dentistry for all of your urgent needs. If you have any questions about the blog or you or a loved one has knocked out a tooth, don’t hesitate to contact the practice for assistance. Telephone: (636) 489-1083.
