A Knocked Out Tooth- What To Do?

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What Do You Do When a Tooth is Knocked Out?  Remember these 6 instructions when dealing with a broken tooth.  A tooth that has been knocked out starts to die within 15 minutes.  A tooth is kept alive by a supply of blood and nerves.

  1. Contact your dentist for instructions or visit the emergency as soon as possible.
  2. If you have to touch the tooth, touch only the crown.  Do not touch the root.
  3. Rinse the tooth gently only if needed with water.  Do not scrub, scrape, or use alcohol on the tooth.
  4. Put the tooth back into the socket and hold in place with guaze. 
  5. If you cannot put the tooth back in the socket, store the tooth in whole milk or between the cheek & gum to prevent the tooth from drying out.   
  6. If the tooth is re-implanted by your dentist within 30 minutes, this is the best chance the tooth will survive. 

If your tooth is chipped or broken but has not fallen out of the mouth, contact your dentist for further instructions.   

Drs. Ogle, Schmitz, and Hart at Family Dentistry are prepared to assist you in Keeping You and Your Family’s Teeth for a Lifetime.