While it’s rare, dental avulsion, or having a tooth knocked out, can cause serious oral trauma. Usually resulting from a hard blow to the face or a lack of adequate mouth protection during athletics, it requires immediate first aid. To help manage a situation like this, your dentist, Dr. Swapna Nadikuda, offers the following advice.
If you have blood or debris in your mouth, you can rinse them away with lukewarm saltwater. This can soothe the injured gums and help you get a better view of the area. If the socket is bleeding excessively, you can lightly bite down on some sterile gauze to stop the bleeding.
There is a slight chance that Dr. Swapna Nadikuda can implant the avulsed tooth back into the socket. For there to be any chance of this succeeding, the tooth must be whole and alive.
You can keep the tooth alive by holding it in your mouth between your cheek and gums. Some stores also sell tooth-preservation gels in the oral healthcare aisle. This canister is filled with a specially formulated nourishing gel that will keep the tooth alive for a short time.
Unfortunately, most dental avulsions result in a broken or shattered tooth with critical elements of the root remaining in the socket. This means the tooth cannot be saved. To prevent pain and future infection, Dr. Swapna Nadikuda will likely need to extract the remnants and suture the wound. Once your gums have healed, she can help you decide if you want to restore the tooth with a dental bridge or a dental implant.
If you’ve had a tooth knocked out in Mason, Ohio, you should call 513.229.7801 as soon as possible to have it treated at NR Family Dentistry.