Trauma and Sport Injuries
If your tooth is displaced by trauma or knocked out of the socket, call us as soon as possible. Any dental injury is distressing, especially when a permanent tooth is knocked out.
There are times when a tooth can be re-implanted and saved if done promptly. Teeth that are reinserted into their socket within twenty minutes have the best chance of surviving.
A few helpful tips to know (especially while getting on your way to us!):
- If the tooth is out of the socket, make sure to handle the tooth only by its crown, not by its root.
- If you are unsure about reimplanting the tooth, clean the tooth under running water and place it in milk. Do not store the tooth in water.
- Cold packs are helpful or even ice cubes placed either inside the mouth or above your injured tooth. These can reduce pain and swelling before the patient reaches our dental practice.
If you play sports, you are more likely to sustain damage to the teeth when not wearing a protective mouthguard. A fractured tooth’s cost may be greater than the cost of a dentist diagnosed and designed professionally made mouthguard.