If you have a tooth knocked out in a dental accident, it’s important to know what to do. Quick action and following a few simple steps can often mean the tooth can be saved by your dentist. If you are in the Costa Mesa area, Smiles4OC has the experience necessary to repair and save your tooth after a dental accident.

What steps you should take at home

If a tooth is knocked out, it is referred to as an avulsed tooth. When this happens, there are a few things you can do at home to aid in the repair process.

• Hold the tooth gently and be careful not to touch the root, as it is easily damaged.
• If the tooth has fallen on the ground and is dirty, hold it by the crown and gently rinse with milk or water.
• The tooth should be kept moist. The best thing to do is to put it back in the socket, but be careful not to swallow it. If it does not go back in the socket it, place it in a container of milk. You should not place a child’s tooth back into the mouth.

How we repair a knocked-out tooth

If the tooth is not cracked or damaged, we will always do our best to try to save it. When a tooth is knocked out and damaged, the nerves and pulp inside of the tooth are also damaged. Because nerve tissue cannot be repaired, any avulsed tooth will require root canal therapy. After a root canal, we will work to put the tooth back into place.

The first thing we do is clear any debris from the socket before slipping the tooth back into place. A splint is then applied to the avulsed tooth and the teeth on both sides of it to keep it in place.

If the jawbone did not sustain any injury, the tooth root may reattach in about three to four weeks. If there is considerable damage it can take longer.

For more information on repairing a knocked-out tooth, call (714) 557-0700.

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