Knocked-out tooth or dental avulsion occurs when a tooth is forcibly removed out of the mouth causing damage to nerves, blood vessels and gum tissue. A child or adult can experience dental avulsion due to an accident or injury. In such a circumstance, go to your dentist immediately as this is a time-sensitive matter and delay will result in the tooth being unsavable.
- Childhood Avulsion
- Adult Avulsion
- Dental Avulsion and Missing Tooth
Childhood Dental Avulsion
If your child experiences dental avulsion, there are 2 important things you must do.
- Call your dentist and book an emergency dental appointment
- Place the tooth in milk
Ideally the knocked-out tooth should be placed underneath the tongue so that it is submerged in saliva. However, as this may be a choking hazard for children, the next best thing to preserve the tooth is to place the tooth in (cow) milk. Do not put the tooth in water or any other solution!
At the dental clinic, the dentist will make an effort to re-implant the tooth in the child’s mouth. This is because baby teeth that prematurely fall out may cause the other teeth to shift in the mouth and cause functional problems later on in life.
Adult Dental Avulsion
If the tooth is not completely knocked out, do not pull on it or attempt to remove it from your mouth. Try to keep it in place in the socket.
If the tooth is completely knocked out, place it underneath your tongue or in cheek. Immediately go to your dentist for optimal health results.
Dental Avulsion and Tooth Replacement
If a tooth is lost, not able to be saved or treatment is not sought in a timely manner, the missing tooth may leave a gap in the smile.
Although some individuals opt to live with the missing tooth, gaps have the potential to cause improper bite, misaligned teeth, difficulty chewing, etc. Furthermore, teeth gaps tend to trap food particles that promote plaque growth and bacterial infection which cause cavities. Aesthetically, gaps in the bite tend to shrink facial volume which result in a tired, aged look.
Dental treatments for missing teeth aim to provide healthy oral function and enhanced facial appearance. Patients have a range of treatments to choose from, including:
- Dental implants to serve as substitute tooth roots
- Artificial tooth restorations (crowns, bridges or dentures)
