How to Save a Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth

ALPHARETTA, GA – Children will begin to lose their baby or primary teeth which are replaced by their secondary (permanent) teeth around the age of five or six. While it can be unsettling to see your child lose a baby tooth due to an accident, My Child’s teeth have a natural back-up plan and will eventually be replaced by permanent teeth. Permanent teeth, on the other hand, have no natural back-up plan on which to depend.

When your child suffers an avulsed tooth due to a direct hit during sports or due to an accident, the first thing is to assess how badly he or she was hurt: Do you need to call 911, or will your child be able to go with you to the dentist or the dental emergency room on their own?

The second thing is to find the tooth that was knocked out because time is critical at this point. When you find the avulsed tooth, there are steps that should and should not be taken for proper knocked out tooth treatment such as:

• Do not touch the roots of the tooth; only touch the crown of the tooth
• Do not wipe the tooth with a cloth, your shirt, with a tissue or paper towel
• Do not wash or brush the tooth with soap or chemicals, even if it is covered with dirt
• Do not remove any tissue or gum fragments from the tooth
• Do not place it under running water for longer than 1 or 2 seconds

To do any of the above could cause permanent damage to the tooth’s roots and could possibly cause Root Resorption: The destruction or loss of the tooth’s root structure. To ensure the safety of the tooth, it is best to do the following:

• Call your pediatric dentist immediately
• It is imperative to place the tooth back in the socket within the first hour of the accident
• If the tooth will not go back in easily, do not force it and place the tooth in a small container of whole milk, saline, or have your child spit in a container and place the tooth in it for transport
• If any of the above are not available and if your child is not in danger of swallowing the tooth, have them place it between their cheek and gum until you reach your dentist’s office or the ER

The key is to keep the tooth moist at all times to prevent root damage. Milk or saline have a similar pH to saliva, so it’s best to immerse the tooth immediately in the above-listed liquids. Plain water is not a good choice, but if it’s all you have, then you should go with that.

Throughout the situation, try to keep calm. If your child becomes upset, he or she may act rashly and cause permanent damage. Lightly place gauze or cotton balls to the affected area if it is bleeding and try to get to a pediatric dentist as soon as possible. They will have the right expertise and equipment needed to treat your child.

Finding a good pediatric dentistry practice in your area is your best guide Johns Creek for emergency situations. Our Alpharetta Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Nanna Ariaban at Polkadot Pediatric Dentistry can offer guidance and information on how to best handle your kid’s broken tooth or avulsed tooth should an emergency ever arise.

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