Dental Accident or Trauma

While it is very rare, sometimes after an accident or trauma, a tooth can be removed from the gums in one piece. If the tooth is in one piece, follow the steps below after calling our after hours emergency line. 
* When dealing with a child’s tooth, make sure that the tooth that has fallen out isn’t a baby tooth. We would only be concerned about replacing a permanent tooth.*

1. Keep the patient calm. 
2. Find the dislodged tooth and pick it up by the crown (the part of the tooth that you chew with). 
3. Avoid touching the root (the part that is normally in the gums). 
4. If the tooth is dirty, wash it for 10 seconds under cool running water. 
5. Try to encourage the patient to re-plant the tooth back in the socket. Bite on something soft to help keep it in place, like a tissue, paper towel or handkerchief. Make sure you don’t swallow the tooth! If you can’t keep it in socket, move onto step 6. 
6. If re-planting the tooth in socket isn’t possible, place the tooth in a suitable storage container, like a glass of milk, saline solution or in a cup with the patients saliva. Do not store the tooth in water. 
7. Seek emergency dental treatment immediately – this may mean a trip to the emergency room.