First Aid for a Knocked Out Permanent Tooth at the Accident Site
Time and correct handling of the permanent tooth is crucial in maintaining the vitality of the tooth Chances of successful treatment diminish with every minute the tooth is out of its normal position (socket).
Immediate Steps to Manage a Permanent Tooth
- Find the tooth and pick it up only by the crown (never by the root) to minimize damage to the living cells on the root
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Rinse the tooth gently and briefly (10 seconds) with cold tap water
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Do not scrub the tooth
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Do not clean the tooth with soap, alcohol, mouthwash or any other chemical
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Do not wrap the tooth in tissue, cloth or plastic
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Do not allow the tooth to dry
Place the tooth back into socket immediately and with gentle finger pressure
(Best chance of saving the tooth)
If unable to place tooth back into its socket...
transport the tooth in the following liquids listed in order of preference:
1. Hanks Balanced Salt Solution (Save-A-Tooth®); sometimes found in first aid kits (tooth may be kept in this solution up to 24 hours) http://www.save-a-tooth.com/
2. Milk preferably cold and low fat (tooth may be kept in milk up to 3 hours)
3. Cold Gatorade or Cold Contact Lens Solution (tooth may be kept in these solutions up to 1 hour; avoid these solutions if they are at room temperature)
4. Cold tap water or inside the child’s mouth (last resort – living cells on tooth may completely die within 1 hour)
Call a dentist immediately to arrange for care. If unable to find a dentist right away, take the child to a hospital emergency room!
First Aid for a Baby Tooth at the Accident Site
▪ Do not place the baby tooth back into socket. It may cause problems to the development of the permanent tooth ▪ Apply gauze to the area of the knocked out tooth for about 15 minutes to control bleeding
▪ It is still important to call a dentist immediately to make sure no other damage has occurred
▪ May want to save the tooth for the tooth fairy!
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