Dental Trauma can occur at any age and at any time. The key to success in any dental injury is to act quickly and remain calm. The first priority is always to check for a head injury. If a head injury has occurred, please contact emergency services.
If the tooth is a baby tooth, do not try to put it back in place. We do not want to cause damage to the future adult tooth in this area. If you are unsure if the tooth is a baby tooth, store the tooth in milk, saliva, or saline and contact your dentist immediately.
If the tooth is an adult tooth…
- Hold the tooth by the crown. Do not touch the root because there are living cells that could be damaged.
- Gently replant the tooth with correct orientation.
- Tip: Look at adjacent teeth to compare orientation
- Gently bite on a paper towel/gauze to keep tooth in place
- Go immediately to dental office
If an adult tooth is not reimplanted immediately, it should be kept moist. The tooth can be stored in milk, saliva, or saline while contacting your dentist immediately. Avoid putting the tooth in water. A tooth can also be stored in Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution, which is a solution typically carried by athletic trainers.
There are a few situations when an adult tooth should not be implanted. Do not reimplant a tooth if it is severely cracked or broken. Reimplantation should not occur if the child is unconscious, immunosuppressed, or has severe heart issues.
If the tooth cannot be found, monitor the child. If breathing difficulty occurs, contact emergency services. We are always here to help!
Reach out to Prairie Dental Group at 217-546-0412 or visit our website.
