Summer is finally here, and with it come dental injuries. Did you know nearly 5 million baby teeth and permanent teeth get 'knocked out' a year? Dr. Krieger at Atlanta Pediatric Dental Specialists are always on call to help you with dental emergencies, but here are some quick tips to keep in mind if your child looses a permanent tooth:
Saving a Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
1. Pick up tooth by the crown (the chewing surface) not the root.
Locate the tooth immediately; do not leave it at the site of the accident. The tooth should be handled carefully -- touch only the crown -- to minimize injury to the root.
2. Do not clean the tooth.
Do not use soap or chemicals.
Do not scrub the tooth.
Do not dry the tooth.
Do not wrap it in a tissue or cloth.
3. Keep tooth moist at all times.
The tooth must not be left outside the mouth to dry. If it cannot be replaced in the socket, put it in one of the following:
Emergency tooth preservation kit (such as Save-a-Tooth®)
Milk
Mouth (next to cheek)
Regular tap water is not recommended for long-term storage because the root surface cells do not tolerate water for long periods of time.
4. Reposition tooth in socket immediately, if possible.
The sooner the tooth is replaced, the greater the likelihood it will survive. To reinsert, carefully push the tooth into the socket with fingers, or position above the socket and close mouth slowly. Hold the tooth in place with fingers or by gently biting down on it.
5. Call the Atlanta Pediatric Dental Specialists office immediately.
At Atlanta Pediatric Dental Specialists, our team strives to make your child feel comfortable and safe during their dental visit. If a dental emergency occurs, it is important to remain calm and follow the steps provided.
