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Losing a permanent tooth is one of the worst dental nightmares for adults—but it’s more frequent than you may think. Sudden hits to the face, car accidents, and even bad oral hygiene can severely impact your oral health and cause irreversible trauma, requiring a visit to an emergency dentist in Montgomery, AL.
Once that happens, it is crucial to act carefully and with knowledge to subdue the damage. We created this guide to help you act calmly and restore your oral health.
5 Steps to Take After Losing a Tooth
Step 1. Stay Calm!
Losing a tooth can be alarming, but staying calm is essential. There’s a high chance that your tooth can be restored if you don’t get overwhelmed and follow the right steps.
First, take a breath and assess the situation. If you can open your mouth, look at its state in detail. Answer questions like:
- How many teeth have fallen?
- Are there any broken teeth?
- Is the area bleeding profusely?
- Was it a molar or a front tooth that was lost?
- Have you lost a filling?
- Did you injure your tongue?
- Have you injured your jawbone?
If the bleeding is excessive, or you suspect you have a fracture on your jaw, visit a hospital right away. If not, continue with the following steps.
Step 2: Find the Tooth
Once you’ve understood how many teeth you’ve lost, you can try to locate them and all of their pieces. We may be able to reinsert them or bond the broken pieces together to restore your smile perfectly. Once you find your tooth, handle it carefully and only grab it by the crown (the part visible in the mouth).
Step 3: Rinse Gently
If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently with water. Do not scrub to remove any attached debris, as this could damage the tooth’s surface.
Step 4: Storage it Safely
After cleaning your tooth, try carefully reinserting it into the socket. Place it in the available space and bite gently. If you can’t do that, store the tooth and all of the pieces in a small container with your saliva or milk.
Step 5: Seek Immediate Dental Care
Once you’ve located and safeguarded your tooth, it’s time to visit our dental office. If reinserted within 30 minutes, the tooth can often be restored, so quickly getting to the dentist is key. Moreover, we will evaluate the tooth and the surrounding area to ensure there aren’t any other injuries and determine the best course of action if there are.
We will explore alternative restorative options if the tooth cannot be restored.
Visit a Trusting Emergency Dentist in Montgomery, AL
Losing a tooth can be a scary and shocking experience. Nevertheless, staying calm throughout the process and quickly taking the right steps can significantly improve the chances of saving your tooth. By following these right steps, the emergency team at Montgomery Smiles can do everything in our power to restore the health of your smile.
Contact us immediately, and let’s explore all your options together!