Dislodged Tooth

Accidents (domestic, road or sports related) do happen and if the trauma is to the mouth, teeth can get dislodged resulting in the tooth becoming loose or being pushed up into or out of its socket. This is also known as tooth avulsion, extrusion or luxation. This situation is a dire dental emergency as the tooth’s out-of-the-socket time is crucial to replant and save its life or end up with expensive treatment.

IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT

We know how stressful it can be seeing yourself or your known ones go through an emergency of this sort. Firstly don’t panic and wash off any blood or soil around your mouth gently. Based on the impact, a dislodged tooth may or may not be associated with toothache and gum bleeding. Whatever the situation is, follow our management protocol and seek an immediate dentist appointment.

If the tooth is dislodged and becomes loose, gently reposition it in the socket and hold it equal to the level of the adjacent tooth with the help of your finger or a clean cloth.
If the tooth is completely knocked out, gently grab the tooth at the crown part but not the root, wash it with water, try to replant it into the socket, position it at the same level of the adjacent tooth and gently put finger pressure or using a clean cloth.
If you’re unable to replant the tooth, put the tooth in a cup of cold milk immediately.
If the tooth is a deciduous (baby/milk tooth), care must be taken not to push the tooth into the socket too much as it can damage the underlying growing adult tooth bud.

WHAT DO WE DO?

Our experienced dentists at Prakhya Dental, care for saving your tooth and do whatever it takes.

If an adult/permanent tooth is completely out of the socket or displaced but within the socket, the dentist will ensure that the tooth is repositioned in the socket in its right place and secure it with the help of composite resin bonding to the adjacent teeth (splinting). This helps in holding the tooth in place and initiating the healing process. It takes 1-2 weeks for the tooth to stabilize and then the split is removed to assess the prognosis. Preliminary radiographs may be taken to evaluate the root condition and its surrounding structures.

Proper handling of the dislodged tooth, oral hygiene status and the age & well-being of the patient can play a vital role in the success of revitalizing the tooth after replantation. A series of review radiographs will be taken based on the signs and symptoms to evaluate the recovery of the tooth. If there is permanent damage to the blood and nerve supply of the tooth, the tooth later discolors and may or may not be associated with signs of abscess or symptoms of pain. In which case, root canal treatment is a must to save the tooth.

In case of deciduous/baby teeth, the age of the patient plays a deciding role as it might not be long before they get exfoliated themselves. However, if the patient is very young, in order to maintain the space for the growing adult tooth, a deciduous tooth too can be repositioned and splinted. This may or maynot require root canal therapy, but a close monitor of the signs and symptoms is pivotal to maintain the health and eruption process of the successor.