First Aid Tips for Dental Trauma Before Seeking Professional Help: What to Do If You Knock Your Teeth Out
Dealing with dental emergencies can be frightening and painful at the same time, especially when you do not know how to handle them. If you are active in physical sports, it’s understandable that accidents could happen like your teeth getting fully or partially knocked out.
Knowing what to do in these critical moments can make all the difference in saving your tooth from permanent trauma and minimising damage. Get to know some essential first-aid tips directly from the professionals for dental trauma.
Why is It Important to Have Knowledge of Dental Emergencies?
As the saying goes, “Knowledge is power.” Having knowledge about dental emergencies is crucial for everyone, especially those involved in high-risk activities like sports. Even though you don’t need it at the moment, it will come in handy in the future when actual emergencies do happen.
For dental emergencies, such as a knocked-out tooth, it usually requires immediate care and attention. The sooner a tooth is reinserted into its place, the higher the chances are of successful reattachment. For that reason, being prepared with the right information can help you stay calm and handle the situation well. This can ensure better outcomes for your oral health.
First Aid for Knocked-Out Teeth
Now that you know how important it is to respond swiftly and correctly when a tooth falls off or chipped, it’s time to learn how to apply first aid for knocked-out teeth.
Handling a Fully Knocked-Out Tooth
If you knock a tooth out, probably in a sporting accident or due to a fall, follow these steps immediately:
- Find the Tooth: Locate the tooth as quickly as possible. Hold it by the crown (the part of your teeth you chew with) and avoid touching the root.
- Remove the Debris: Take note: if the tooth has debris on it, gently remove it without rinsing it with water. Rinsing with water can remove the cells on the root, which are important for reattachment.
- Reinsert the Tooth: If the tooth is completely knocked out, try to reinsert it into the socket. It doesn’t matter if it’s not at the perfect angle. Bite down on a piece of cotton or gauze to hold it in place. This can help keep the tooth stable until you can see a dentist.
- Keep the Tooth Moist: If reinserting the tooth is not possible, try to keep it moist by placing it in a container with milk or saline solution. If neither is available, keep the tooth in your mouth between your cheek and gums to keep it moist with your saliva.
Handling a Partially Knocked-Out Tooth
If the tooth is not completely knocked out but is loose or displaced:
- Look for The Knocked-Out Tooth: Try to look for the knocked-out tooth. Keep it in a clean container and save it until you get dental care from a dentist.
- Leave the Tooth in Place: Do not try to remove the rest of the tooth from the socket. Leave it in its current position.
- Stabilise the Tooth: If possible, gently push the tooth back to its normal position. Bite down gently on a piece of cotton or gauze to stabilise it.
- Seek Immediate Dental Care: Head to the dentist immediately with the knocked-out part. Emergency dental care is crucial to address dental trauma and prevent further damage.
Professional Assessment and Care
Once you’ve done your part in administering first aid, the next best thing to do is to seek professional dental care as soon as possible. Your dentist is the best person to examine your teeth and evaluate the extent of the injury.
They are the most qualified to provide the necessary emergency dental treatments to save your tooth and prevent further complications. When you’re looking for one in Blackburn, VIC, our dental professionals at Whitehorse Dental are here to help you out.
Emergency Dental Care and Treatments
After you have administered the proper first aid for dental emergencies, your dentist will likely evaluate the best course of action for your injury. Here are some of the emergency dental treatments that they will likely do depending on your situation:
- Reattachment of the Tooth: If the tooth has been properly cared for, the dentist will attempt to reinsert and reattach it. This may involve splinting the tooth to adjacent teeth for stability.
- Root Canal Therapy: In some cases, if the pulp has inflamed or been infected due to dental trauma, root canal therapy may be necessary to remove damaged tissue.
- Repairing Fractured Teeth: If the tooth is broken or chipped, the dentist can still use bonding materials to repair it.
- Managing Pain and Infection: Injuries cause a lot of pain, however learning how to manage pain with medication can help greatly. Your dentist may prescribe pain relievers or antibiotics if necessary.
Creating an Emergency Dental First Aid Kit
Having an emergency dental first aid kit at home or in your sports bag can be incredibly useful in case you or anyone around you gets dental emergencies. Here’s what to include:
- Sterile gauze pads
- Small container with a lid
- Saline solution
- gloves
Be Prepared During Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies can happen at any time of day, so it’s better for you to always be equipped with knowing the proper action when it happens—especially when a tooth gets knocked out. And when the worst happens, remember to stay calm, handle the tooth carefully, and seek emergency dental care immediately.
If you ever find yourself facing a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to contact Whitehorse Dental for immediate assistance. Our experienced team is here to provide you with the urgent care you need to save your teeth and restore your smile.
Call us at (03) 8838 8820 to ensure you receive the best possible care in any dental emergency.
