What if a tooth gets knocked out?
If the tooth is a permanent tooth, time is extremely crucial. Immediately stick the tooth back in the socket. Don’t worry about getting it in straight or having it turned backwards, just get it in the socket and immediately call your dentist. If you are uncomfortable placing the tooth in the socket, put it in a glass of milk and get your child to the dentist as quickly as possible. If the tooth is a baby tooth, do not put it in the socket because damage to the permanent tooth can occur. When in doubt, put the tooth in milk and see your dentist immediately.
If the tooth is loose, even extremely so, but is still attached in any way, leave it in place; do not remove it. If it is out of its socket completely and unattached, but still in the mouth, it is best to have the person hold it there, if possible, until Dr. Hanfland can attempt re-implantation. If it is out of the mouth, do not let it dry out. Handle it as little as possible. Rinse it off in lukewarm water. Do not attempt to disinfect the tooth, or scrub it, or remove any tissue attached to it. Place it in a cup of milk until Dr. Hanfland can examine it. If milk is not available, lukewarm water will suffice. Call our office at 402-333-6080 immediately. Time out of the socket is critical in the long-term success of re-implantation. After 30 minutes, the success potential begins to decline. However, re-implantation by Dr. Hanfland is still possible after several hours, so the attempt can still be made even if the tooth has been out for a long period.
