What To Do If A Tooth Gets Knocked Out

Robert S. Gurmankin, DMD

Forms & Documents

        Three to five million teeth are knocked out every year in the U.S., usually the result of trauma. If the tooth can be replanted within 15-60 minutes after the accident, there is a 60-90% chance the tooth will be retained for life. If there are any signs of head injury, the person must be evaluated for that first.

        After the accident, the tooth should be located and picked up by the crown or enamel portion and NOT the root. Do not try to clean it. Put it in whole cold milk, (saliva or water if milk is unavailable) and get to the dentist immediately. Do not transport it dry.

        If a primary (baby) tooth is knocked out, it should NOT be replanted as it could damage the forming permanent tooth bud.

        Many injuries to the teeth occur while playing sports. Basketball, not football has the highest dental injury rate, followed by soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, volleyball and softball.

        A mouthguard can greatly reduce the risk of injury. The "one size fits all" type found in most sporting goods stores provides minimal protection, but is better than nothing (but just barely).

        A custom fitted, pressure laminated mouthguard provides maximum protection and is comfortable to wear.

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Dental injuries are the most common type of facial injury sustained during participation in sports; the majority of these injuries are preventable.

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Some Facts

        An athlete is sixty times more likely to sustain damage to the teeth when not wearing a protective mouthguard.

The cost of a fractured tooth is many times greater than the cost of a dentist diagnosed and designed professionally made mouthguard.

        Every athlete involved in contact sport has about 10% chance per season of an orofacial injury or a 35-56% chance during an athletic career.

        A properly fitted mouthguard reduces the chance of sustaining a concussion from a blow to the jaw.

        The American Dental Association recommends wearing custom mouthguards for the following sports: Acrobats, basketball, boxing, field hockey, football, gymnastics, handball, ice hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, roller hockey, rugby, shotputting, skateboarding, skiing, skydiving, soccer, squash, surfing, volleyball, water polo, weight lifting, wrestling.

Disclaimer
All advice provided on this web site is in the nature of general advice only. The advice may not be applicable to your particular circumstances. You are therefore advised to seek detailed advice from a qualified dentist prior to embarking on any course of action. We can not accept liability for any treatment undertaken on the basis of this web site.