Dislodged Tooth: What To Do

Posted June 11, 2015

One of the not-so-lovely facts of life is that teeth can become dislodged, particularly in the case of a serious impact to one’s face. Though we feel hopeful you never have to experience witnessing your child losing a tooth this way, kids have a tendency to have minor accidents or sudden run-ins with other kids and objects as they play, particularly when team sports are involved. The great news is that we offer emergency dentistry to quickly address your child’s tooth. Rather than show up unprepared, however, we encourage you to learn a bit more about what to do to when your child deals with a knocked-out tooth, so you feel prepared and relaxed. Learn more with the following:

Preparing for An Emergency Visit

Call us immediately to schedule an emergency dentistry appointment. Then, follow these steps:

1. Do not dispose of your child’s tooth.
2. Hold the tooth by the crown – keep a gentle grip on the tooth but make sure you do not drop it or allow it to go down the drain.
3. Hold the tooth under running lukewarm water, gently rinsing it. Avoid washing away or disturbing attached gum tissue, which you will want to do your best to preserve.
4. If your child is older and does not resist the idea, see if you can gently slip the tooth back into its socket. If this is successful (again, ensure you do not use any force to accomplish this) then you will need to ask your child to gently keep his or her teeth closed on the trip to the dentist to keep the tooth from dislodging once more. If your child is too young or too hesitant, skip to the next step.
5. Place the tooth in a sealed container that you have filled with either milk or a mixture of water and salt. This will keep the tooth safe as you bring it to our office. Avoid placing the tooth in a container with plain water.

ABOUT YOUR DALLAS, TX DENTIST:

At Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda, Dr. Marr provides gentle, compassionate children’s dentistry, including a comprehensive selection of treatments. In combined efforts with her considerate, experienced team, Dr. Marr promotes both comfort and education to safeguard your child’s oral health for many years to come. To learn more or to schedule a visit, contact our office at 214-321-4880. We proudly welcome patients from Dallas, Casa Linda, Lakewood, Lake Highlands, Forest Hills, East Dallas, Mesquite, Garland, Richardson, and surrounding communities.