A tooth avulsion is a fancy way in the dental world to say that a person got their tooth knocked out. Tooth avulsions are very common and happen most often when playing high contact sports. If you or your child get one of your teeth knocked out, there are several steps you can take to minimize the pain and avoid having a gap in your teeth.
1) Stop Any Bleeding
In the event of a tooth avulsion, the person whose tooth was knocked out will most likely be quite surprised. Stay calm and help them remain calm as well. It is important to verify that the individual is sticking with you and not going into hypovolemic shock from bleeding. You will need to staunch the blood flow. Be gentle, as this is an open wound. Use a clean, soft rag or towel to keep the blood from getting into the newly avulsed hole. It would be a good idea as well to get an ice pack for the swelling.
2) Find the Tooth
If the tooth that was knocked out was not a baby tooth, it would be a good idea to retrieve the tooth because it can be replanted. Wash off the tooth if it gets dirty and be very careful not to drop it or crack it. Take the tooth with you to the dentist because they may be able to resew it into the tooth avulsion victim’s mouth. Keeping the tooth in a bag of milk or water will help keep it clean and moist until you get to the doctor.
3) Call Your Dentist Immediately
It is important to get in contact with your dentist right away when a tooth is knocked out. There are emergency dental services available that will be able to help you. It is ideal to get to the dentist as quickly as possible because it will make the chances of success much higher if the tooth is able to be replanted within the first half an hour to an hour after the incident. If you live in North Carolina and are in need of emergency dental services, give us a call at Mill River Family Dental!
How Do Dentists Repair An Avulsed Tooth?
Most of the time, if the injured person is able to get to the dentistry within the first hour after the tooth was avulsed, the dentist will be able to repair the tooth fairly easily. The dentist will wash the area and the tooth socket to ensure that no bacteria gets into the wound. Then assuming the tooth was able to be salvaged, the doctor will attempt to put the tooth back into the socket. Oftentimes, the tooth will just slide right back into place. The dentist may also put a splint on the tooth to assist the tissues in reattaching to the tooth.
What Is The Recovery Process For An Avulsed Tooth?
After a successful replantation of a tooth that has been knocked out, it is recommended that the injured person take some time to rest. Ice and pain medication will be useful in decreasing the pain. According to Colgate, it should take about 3-4 weeks for the tooth to reattach to the root and about 6-8 weeks for the injured person to feel back to normal. Your dentist should check on the tooth for some time after the injury in order to verify that the replantation process worked and is continuing to do its job.
Do You Have A Tooth Avulsion?
If you or someone you know is currently experiencing the effects of a tooth avulsion, call us at Mills River Family Dental immediately. We have expert consultants who can help you get your tooth replanted and fixed. If you are searching for more information regarding tooth avulsions or other dental topics, we are happy to help. Contact us today!