If you are an athlete playing in a contact sport, it’s important that you use a mouth guard during the required phases of practice and games. Procrastinating these necessary protection measures leaves you vulnerable to various forms of undue oral trauma. One of the worst things that can befall you is to have a blow to the face knock a tooth out.
Also known as a dental avulsion, this severe oral trauma can cause significant pain, requiring timely first aid, while seeking professional care at Dr. Bryce Hanson’s Shelley, Idaho clinic.
If the incident has left you with blood or unwanted material in your mouth, you can gently rinse it away and with lukewarm salt water. This can also help soothe other injured tissues in the area. It’s best to avoid antiseptic mouthwash as the alcohol or astringents as this can exacerbate the pain.
Dr. Bryce Hanson might be able to implant the tooth back into the socket. For there to be any chance of success, the tooth needs to be whole and still alive.
You can keep a whole tooth alive by holding it between your cheek and gums. There is also a tooth preservation product sold in stores. To use it, you simply place the knocked-out tooth in the jar and seal it. The nourishing gel inside the canister will keep the tooth alive for a short time, while you make your way to Dr. Bryce Hanson’s clinic.
If any part of the tooth remains in the socket, it will not be viable for implantation. Sometimes, Dr. Bryce Hanson can perform a root canal, to restore the structure of the tooth. Once this is done, they can start the process of fitting you for a standard crown.
For a tooth that has been severely damaged, or if there are ancillary issues with the structure of the socket, your dentist may advocate a total extraction. Later, we can help you decide if you’d like to restore the tooth with a dental implant.
If you live in the Shelley, Idaho area and you’ve suffered a significant oral trauma, you should not delay in calling 208-357-7611 to seek professional care with Dr. Bryce Hanson.