If A Tooth Gets Knocked Out Follow These Tips From Our Dental Office

As a dental office we understand how important teeth are. Our digestive process begins with the act of chewing and so protecting our teeth is essential. In the modern world, our children are faced with new dangers and potential for losing or damaging their teeth. Chief among these are sports and recreational activities like climbing or skateboarding. Contact sports like football also can result in damage to a tooth or even the loss of a tooth due to a collision. In order to protect the teeth from inadvertently being knocked out, all athletes wear mouth guards that can help mitigate damage and reduce the impact. However, accidents still happen.

For a child to lose a tooth is a big deal, especially if the tooth that is lost is the permanent tooth. All people have two sets of teeth. The first, milk teeth which are also known as deciduous teeth, come in first as a baby and eventually fall out naturally to make room for the larger, more permanent teeth. Functionally the baby teeth are essential since a child learns how to chew and talk with these teeth. Also, they serve as a placeholder for the permanent teeth. In this role, they prevent other teeth from crowding the space required by the adult tooth so that it can grow smoothly and proportionately. As a result, when a milk tooth is knocked loose, we will take precautions to ensure that the gap, left by the tooth, is not filled or crowded by the surrounding teeth.  This is necessary to prevent an irregular growth of the adult tooth.

If your child has a baby or milk tooth knocked out during a sport it is a good idea to visit our dental office as soon as possible to make a plan. This way we can start monitoring the other teeth until the new tooth has grown in. You can also bring the knocked out tooth with you, transporting it in milk.

On the other hand, if the tooth that has been displaced is a permanent tooth, the problem is more serious.

We advise taking the following steps –

Find the tooth and make sure it is clean. If it is clean put it back into the socket from which it fell and hold it in place. The tooth may be held in place using the opposing teeth, the tongue, or by wrapping it in a foil using the neighboring teeth as a support. If the tooth is obviously dirty, wash it before placing it in the mouth to avoid contamination.

Call our dental office to schedule an emergency exam. We can look at various options for restoring the tooth or if it is too far gone, replacing the tooth with another dental solution. Getting the tooth to the dentist quickly is essential, and it can, like the deciduous tooth, be transported in milk or even a saline solution. When handling the tooth make sure not to touch the root but instead pick it up and handle it using the crown to avoid damaging the root.

During the appointment, we will give you advice on the best way to proceed.

Tips for Keeping Your Implant in Good Condition from an Implant Dentist

If you are looking for an implant dentist, we help patients transform their smiles, and this is one of the many procedures that we specialize in. An implant can transform a person’s smile by restoring missing teeth and giving them the full functionality that typically only comes from natural teeth. We asked our implant dentist to answer some commonly asked questions about implants and how to keep them in good condition.

Question: What is a dental implant?

Answer: There are actually two parts to an implant: a synthetic root system and a new tooth. The roots are made of a metal post, and the tooth is typically made of ceramic.

Question: What do they look like?

Answer: An implant looks like a natural tooth because it is created in a dental lab to match the surrounding teeth in shape and size. The color is also matched to the natural teeth so that it blends in perfectly.

Question: What can an implant dentist use them for?

Answer: Most of the time they are used to replace a tooth that has fallen out. This is an alternative to dentures or installing a dental bridge and looks more natural than both of those solutions. It is also more durable. At times, patients will ask for an implant to correct a crooked tooth that may not be responsive to orthodontics.

Question: How does the process work?

Answer: The main difference between an implant and any other type of procedure is the new root system that is created. In order to do this, I implant a metal post under the gums and secure it to the jawbone. The bone responds by eventually fusing with the metal. This step can take a few months, but once they are fused together, a synthetic root system exists that is as durable and strong as a natural one. Meanwhile, a new tooth is being created in the lab using an impression that was taken of a patient’s mouth. Once the first stage is complete, I secure the new tooth to the metal post at the surface of the gums and position it into place. The results look completely natural.

Question: How long will my implant last?

Answer: There is no set time frame and your dental implants can last a lifetime if you take care of your oral health.

Question: How do I keep them in good condition?

Answer: Dental implants are stain resistant and not prone to infection because they are made of ceramic and metal. The rest of the teeth in your mouth and gums are susceptible to becoming infected, so the focus needs to be on taking care of them.  I recommend that patients brush after every meal and floss daily in order to remove bacteria and plaque. Teeth cleanings twice a year are also important for preventing infections and treating them right away if they do occur. The greatest risk to an implant is having an untreated oral infection spread into the jawbone. This can be prevented with regular teeth cleanings.

We are happy to answer any additional questions you have during a consultation. Schedule a consultation today.