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Urgent Dental Care When You Lose a Tooth

February 6, 2019
Uncategorized

As our children grow, they become more agile and physical.  By the time they are 12- 24 months old, they are experimenting with running, jumping, and throwing.  Fast forward a few years and they will be running at full speed, tackling and wrestling each other for fun. 

Sometimes the experimenting in earlier years and the rough play in later years results in injuries.  A common injury we see in our office is a knocked-out tooth.  While you may not be especially concerned because children lose their “baby teeth” anyway, that’s fine.  But it’s important to get your child to the dentist so he or she can evaluate whether the adult teeth under the “baby teeth” were damaged. 

If your child loses a tooth, don’t panic!  Follow these tips to get your child the best dental care:

  • Find the tooth, picking it up by the crown (the portion of the tooth that chews) if possible. 
  • Rinse briefly under water if dirty (do not scrub.)
  • Call the Miro Dental Center closest to you and request an urgent appointment for a tooth that has been knocked out.  It’s best if you can see the dentist within 30 minutes of the injury.
  • Bring the clean tooth with you to your appointment, carrying it by the crown or in a plastic bag. 
  • When you arrive at our office, the dentist will evaluate the best solution for your child. 

Having a tooth knocked out also can happen to adults.  Whether an individual took a fall, ran into an object, or received a punch, if an adult tooth was knocked out, this is what you need to do:

  • Find the tooth, picking it up by the crown (the portion of the tooth that chews) if possible. 
  • Rinse briefly under water if dirty (do not scrub.)
  • Don’t wrap your tooth in a towel or napkin!  Try to gently insert and press the tooth in the socket with a clean cloth or towel.  If you’re unable to insert the tooth, then keep the tooth under your tongue to preserve the tooth and roots.  If you are unable to do either of these first two options, then the third option is to put the tooth in a container with your own saliva, with milk, or a saline salt water solution so the tooth will stay moist. 
  • Call the Miro Dental Center closest to you and request an urgent appointment for a tooth that has been knocked out.  It’s best if you can see the dentist within 30 minutes of the injury.
  • Bring the clean tooth preserved either in your mouth or in liquid as noted above.

The quicker you get to the dentist with your tooth, the better chance you have of saving your natural tooth.   If the tooth is still in good condition, the dentist may be able to properly place your natural tooth.  If your dentist finds that the tooth has been out of the moist environment too long, she may be unable to use it.  However, she will work with you to determine the best possible tooth replacement option for you.  Dental implants, bridges, and dentures are all potential options. To learn more about restorative dentistry options, click here.

Miro Dental Center

Dr. Claudio Miro and associates have been treating patients in the greater Miami area for over 30 years. As a team, we believe that the patient is of upmost importance at every level.   We take pride in the care we provide to our patients at Miro Dental Centers. We take the time to make sure our patients are fully informed and are given all treatment options.  Our goal is to the provide our patients with optimal oral health by using state of the art technology.

With the dental field rapidly advancing, we are always looking for new and innovative treatments to serve our patients. We provide all types of services, including dental cleanings, orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery and cosmetic dentistry.

If you have questions about your dental health or would like to schedule an appointment at our offices in Coral Gables, Kendall, Hialeah, or Hollywood, please contact us today at 305-442-7444.