If a tooth is knocked out
- Handle it gentlyPick the tooth up by the crown, the white part. Do not touch the root.
- Rinse only if dirtyRinse briefly with water. Do not use soap, and never scrub or scrape it.
- Put it back if you canGently place it back in the socket. The less time it is out, the better the chance of saving it.
- If not, keep it moistUse a tooth-saving solution from a drugstore, or milk, or hold it inside your cheek. Do not store it in tap water.
- Get care right awayYour dentist will clean and replace the tooth if needed, check for other injuries, and place a splint for a few weeks. Root canal treatment may start a week or two later, depending on how developed the root is.
Chipped or broken teeth
Most chipped teeth can be repaired by reattaching the broken piece or with a tooth-colored filling. A larger break may need a crown. If the pulp is exposed or damaged, root canal treatment may be needed.
Until you reach the office, bite on clean, moist gauze if breathing through your mouth or cold drinks hurt. Do not put numbing gels, ointments or aspirin on the injured area. Injuries to back teeth can include fractured cusps and cracked or split teeth.
Loosened or pushed-in teeth
A tooth may be pushed sideways, out of, or into its socket. It will be repositioned and stabilized. Permanent teeth that have been dislodged usually need root canal treatment, started a few days after the injury. A medicine such as calcium hydroxide may be placed first, with the permanent filling later.
Children aged about 7 to 12 may not need a root canal, because their roots are still growing. We will watch healing closely over several visits and act right away if anything changes.
Root fractures
An injury can cause a horizontal crack in the root. Fractures close to the root tip have a much better outlook than those near the gum line. A splint may be needed for a while.
Injuries in children
- Chipped baby teeth can be repaired. Loosened baby teeth can occasionally be repositioned.
- A knocked-out baby tooth should usually not be put back, because doing so can damage the permanent tooth growing underneath.
- Young permanent teeth that are not fully formed need careful follow-up. Their blood supply and stem cells can sometimes allow the root to keep growing, and not all of them need a root canal.
Follow-up care
The type of injury, how quickly it was treated, how the tooth was stored, and your body’s response all affect the long-term outcome. Prompt treatment of a loosened or knocked-out tooth helps prevent resorption, where the body begins to reject its own tooth. Plan on checkups at regular intervals for up to five years so we can catch any problem early.
Adapted from patient information by the American Association of Endodontists. Every tooth is different; Dr. Warren will explain what applies to yours at your exam.