Traumatic Injuries
Injuries to the mouth are something endodontists are uniquely trained to treat, and what to do in the moment can make a real difference in whether a tooth can be saved.
Stay calm, and keep the injured person calm too.
Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown (the white part) — avoid touching the root.
If it’s dirty, rinse it briefly (about 10 seconds) under cold running water. Don’t scrub it.
If possible, reposition the tooth back in its socket and bite down gently on a handkerchief to hold it in place.
If you can’t reinsert it, place the tooth in milk or saliva to keep it moist. Never store it in water.
Get to a dentist right away — how long the tooth was out, and how it was stored, affects what treatment is possible.
Dislodged Teeth
An injury can also push a tooth back into its socket. In these cases, your endodontist or general dentist will reposition and stabilize the tooth. Root canal treatment usually begins within a few weeks of the injury, with a medication like calcium hydroxide placed inside the tooth before a permanent filling is added later.
Sometimes a tooth is pushed only partially out of its socket instead. Again, it can be repositioned and stabilized, and if the pulp stays healthy, no further treatment is needed. If the pulp becomes damaged or infected, though, root canal treatment will be necessary. Left untreated, complications can include infection of the tooth or surrounding tissue, difficulty keeping the area clean, and eventually loss of the tooth.
Injuries in Children
A child’s injured tooth may not be fully developed yet. There are special procedures available to help an immature tooth continue developing after an injury — but as with any dental emergency, it’s important to seek treatment right away.
For more detailed guidance, visit dentaltraumaguide.org.
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