Would you know what to do if you knocked out your tooth? Whether the cause is an accident, sports injury or assault, it is important to know what to do if your tooth is knocked out. While losing a tooth is never fun, most teeth can be reinserted if the roots are kept alive.

While the best option is to see your dentist as soon as possible, there are some important things you can do along the way.

Handle the Tooth with Care

If you or someone you know is involved in an accident, make sure they aren’t in need of emergency medical assistance. Blunt facial trauma, even if minor, warrants a trip to the nearest emergency room. This holds especially true if your tooth is knocked out.

However, while awaiting medical assistance, it’s important to preserve the knocked out tooth or teeth. When a tooth severs from its socket, the ligament is usually destroyed. In order to survive, the tooth must be reattached to its nerve fibers. If you find your tooth, carefully pick it up by the crown, not the root. Gently remove the dirt and either place it back in the socket or place it in between your cheek and gum. Keeping the tooth in your mouth while in route for emergency treatment may help preserve the tooth.

Place the Tooth in Milk

If you aren’t able to put the tooth back into the socket, the next best thing is storing it in milk. Milk helps prevent the cells within the root from swelling and bursting. Remember that storage is only intended for up to six hours while awaiting treatment. Your dentist will then be able to stabilize your tooth and decide if it’s salvageable.

Saving a Knocked Out Tooth

When the proper procedure is followed, you have an approximately 90 percent chance of a knocked-out tooth. The key is knowing how to preserve it and seeking immediate assistance. If your dentist is not available, you should head to the nearest emergency room. Most hospitals have a dentist on staff who may be able to save the tooth.

Prevention

You can’t prevent accidents but you can prevent tooth loss with proper dental intervention. Regular dental checkups ward off gum disease, which is one of the leading causes of tooth loss. Performing proper dental hygiene and having regular cleanings not only catch potential dental issues early but also help save your tooth.

Taking care of your teeth is far more than simply brushing and flossing. In addition to your at-home oral hygiene, you also need to get semi-annual cleanings.

Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t even think about going to the dentist until they are in pain. Then, they choose the first name that pops up on their Google search. Ultimately, that may remedy their toothache but doesn’t get to the root of the problem.

Knowing what to look for in a dental practice is important, so here are four things for you to keep in mind when choosing a dentist.

Location and Availability

Choosing a dentist close to home and work makes it easier to schedule both routine and emergency visits. In addition, you should make sure that the office is open when you are available and have emergency hours as well.

Professional Qualifications

You should also inquire about the dentist’s professional qualifications. While dental practices specialize in certain facets of dentistry, others are general dentists, which means you will also need to find other specialists for your dental needs.

For example, if you need oral surgery but the dentist you choose only practices general dentistry, you’ll also need to find an oral surgeon. You should also verify credentials with the state licensing board in your area. You can also use their website to see if the dental practice received disciplinary action in the past.

Cost

It might be hard to believe but the cost does matter. You need a dental practice that is an affordable treatment option. Most dentists offer financing and even payment plans for more expensive dental treatments. Finally, reputable dental practices will offer free estimates of procedures you need as well as a complete list of charges.

Check Out the Office Staff

In addition to the dentist’s qualifications, you also need to pay attention to the dental staff. Make note of how they interact with you and other patients. Are they welcoming? Do they answer questions your questions completely? If you feel put off by the way the staff treats you or other patients, you may want to look elsewhere.

Your Personal Comfort

Above all else, you need to feel comfortable while at the dentist. Especially if you already fear the dentist, you need to choose a practice that makes you feel at ease. Though your dentist cannot alleviate all of your fears, you should still trust them to perform dental procedures without worrying about their capability.

Choose Mountain View Dental

For professional and friendly care, consider our up-to-date and clean office, Mountain View Dental. You can easily schedule an appointment at 385-324-3557 today.