What to Do After Losing a Permanent Tooth

Though we hope our patients at the Bridge Smiles Dental Group never experience a dental emergency such as the loss of a permanent tooth, we want them to be prepared if they do. There is a chance that a tooth could be saved if it is in one piece, but it requires immediate attention from a dentist and for the tooth to be kept clean and wet.

When handling the tooth, only hold it by the crown (the part which was visible when it was in its socket).Some first aid kits are stocked with containers for lost teeth and a special solution to place them in. If there is no first aid kit at hand, rinse the tooth with milk or saltwater and then place it back in the socket, facing the right way. The next best option is to hold it in the cheek; otherwise, it should be brought to the dental office in a container filled with milk or a saline solution.

Implants and baby teeth cannot be saved. Dentists only attempt to save implants when the gum tissue surrounding them is inflamed, not when they’ve been knocked clear of the bone matrix they integrated with. Saving a baby tooth could prevent it from getting out of the way of the permanent tooth. Children who have lost teeth prematurely are usually given an orthodontic spacer to ensure their other teeth do not shift into the gap.

Advice about saving permanent teeth assumes that the lost tooth is the patient’s most severe injury. If the patient has suffered a massive bleeding wound or suspects that their jaws or other facial bones are broken, they should go to an emergency room instead of a dental office.

Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge ST. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit BridgeSmilesDental.com.