Knocked Out Tooth in Fort Wayne

A Knocked Out Tooth Is a Time-Sensitive Emergency

Having a tooth completely knocked out, known in dental terms as an avulsed tooth, is one of the most time-critical dental emergencies. The good news is that if you act quickly and handle the tooth correctly, there is a strong chance it can be successfully reimplanted and saved. The key is getting to our office as fast as possible.

The ligament fibers that attach the tooth root to the bone begin to die when they dry out. That is why keeping the tooth moist is essential. Reimplantation is most successful within the first 30 minutes. After an hour, success rates drop considerably, though we have saved teeth even after longer delays. Every minute counts.

How to Save a Knocked Out Tooth: Step by Step

What you do in the minutes after a tooth is knocked out has a direct impact on whether it can be saved. Follow these steps carefully:

1. 1Find the tooth. Pick it up by the crown (the white part you see when you smile). Never touch the root, as this can damage the delicate fibers needed for reattachment.
2. 2If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently under running water for no more than 10 seconds. Do not scrub, wipe, or use soap, alcohol, or any cleaning solution.
3. 3Try to place the tooth back into its socket. Hold it in place by biting down gently on a clean cloth or piece of gauze. If the tooth slides in without force, this is the best way to preserve it.
4. 4If you cannot put it back in, store the tooth in cold whole milk. Milk has the right pH and osmotic pressure to keep the root cells alive. Alternatives include saline solution or holding the tooth between your cheek and lower gum (be careful not to swallow it).
5. 5Call us at 260-216-8066 immediately and head to our Fort Wayne office. Tell us a tooth has been knocked out so we can prepare for your arrival.

What Happens at Our Office

When you arrive, we move quickly. Our team will examine the tooth and the socket, take X-rays to check for bone damage, and clean both the tooth and the socket to prepare for reimplantation. The tooth is carefully placed back into position and secured with a flexible splint, which is a thin wire bonded to the reimplanted tooth and the teeth on either side.

The splint typically stays in place for one to two weeks while the tooth reattaches to the bone and gum tissue. During this time, you will need to eat soft foods and avoid biting on the splinted area. We schedule follow-up visits to monitor healing and determine if root canal treatment is needed. Root canals are necessary in most reimplanted adult teeth because the nerve supply is disrupted during avulsion.

When Reimplantation Is Not Possible

If the tooth has been out of the mouth for too long, if the root is severely damaged, or if the socket bone is fractured, reimplantation may not be viable. In these cases, we will discuss replacement options with you. A dental implant is the closest replacement to a natural tooth in terms of function and appearance. Bridges and removable partial dentures are also effective options depending on your situation and goals.

Preventing Knocked Out Teeth

Most knocked out teeth result from sports injuries, falls, and physical accidents. If you or your children play contact sports, a custom-fitted mouthguard is the single most effective way to prevent tooth avulsion and other dental injuries. We can fabricate custom sports mouthguards at our Fort Wayne office that fit securely and provide better protection than over-the-counter options.