Knocked-Out Tooth? Your Chicago Emergency Dentist Can Help

In life, there are times in which accidents cannot be avoided. If you or a loved one have a tooth knocked out, there are options available to repair it immediately. Your tooth loss does not need to be permanent. While we all hope that this never occurs, it is considered a dental emergency that requires seeing our office as soon as possible.
 

Steps for Handling a Knocked-Out Tooth

 
When a tooth is knocked out, most people immediately worry about the blood loss in the mouth. However, more attention needs to be focused on the actual tooth. Here are a few steps to remember:
 
1. Collect the tooth or teeth
Be careful when handling, try to only touch the tooth, not the root.
 
2. Store properly
The tooth can be stored in milk or back in the mouth to prevent drying. If possible, place the tooth back in the socket. Bite down on a gauze pad for pressure to help hold it in place in your mouth. The injured person can also hold the tooth in the pocket of their cheek in the mouth.
 
3. Control bleeding 
Control bleeding by gently applying pressure to the wound with a cloth or sterile gauze pad.
 
4. Call your Chicago emergency dentist immediately!
 

Extra Tips During a Dental Emergency

 
When a person has a tooth knocked out, prepare yourself for quite a bit of blood. The mouth often bleeds more than other areas of the body. A few tips to help you handle this situation:
 
- Be sure to collect the tooth as soon as possible. The sooner the patient can get to the dentist the higher the chance is of saving the tooth.
 
- Use a soft ice pack on the outside of the mouth on the person if they are experiencing pain. Remember to be careful with this if the injured person is holding the loose tooth in their mouth.
 
- Call 911 if the person loses consciousness.
 
Your Chicago emergency dentist will provide you with more information on how to care for this tooth once it has been implanted. Please exercise caution at all times, especially when participating in sports and activities. Protect yourself by using a mouth guard and/or helmet.