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Guidelines for a Knocked-Out Tooth
Well, it’s that time of the year again. The kids are back in school and the lazy days of summer are over. It’s also the time of year when many children become involved in contact sports. I am often asked by parents in my office, “What should I do if my child ever gets a tooth knocked out by trauma?” A typical scenario would be Johnny was playing soccer and got head-butted in the face. He fell down and when he got up he noticed bleeding from his nose and mouth. After wiping the blood from his mouth, he finds his tooth in his hand. What do you do? Luckily, your dentist can deal effectively with this kind of emergency. But he’ll need your help.
Collect the tooth and immediately replace it in the socket at the site of the injury. Instruct your child to hold it in place with their thumb until you reach the dentist. This will keep the tooth in its natural environment and the opportunity for a successful re-implantation. If this is not possible, wrap the tooth in a wet cloth, or even better, place it in a cup of milk. Do not place the tooth in a dry paper towel or place it in any sports drink. Don’t linger! The chance for a successful treatment is best if the tooth is treated within the first 30 minutes after injury. After this window of time, successful re-implantation drops dramatically.
Some parents rush their child to the dentist, but in their panic, forget the tooth. Don’t forget the tooth and don’t try to clean it yourself -- even if it looks horrible. What you think may be dirt, my actually be soft tissues that will help the healing process.
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