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Accidents happen in a split second—whether it’s a sports collision at the park or an accidental trip at home. Seeing a permanent tooth get knocked out of your mouth can cause an immediate wave of panic.
However, a knocked-out permanent tooth is a critical dental emergency, but it can often be saved if you act quickly! Knowing exactly what to do in those first 60 minutes makes all the difference between saving your natural tooth and needing a replacement.
Read More: Recognizing Dental Emergencies: When to Seek Immediate Care
Touch Only the Crown—Never Touch the Root!
When you locate the missing tooth, your first instinct might be to pick it up and wipe it clean. Stop right there! Pick the tooth up strictly by the top white part (the crown). Never touch, scrape, or scrub the bottom yellow root. The root is covered in delicate, living ligament cells that are essential for the tooth to reattach to your jawbone. Touching or scrubbing the root damages these fragile cells and destroys the chance of saving the tooth.
Keep the Tooth Moist in Milk or Saliva
A knocked-out tooth cell starts to dry out within minutes if left out in the open. To keep the root cells alive while you head to our clinic, you must keep the tooth constantly moist:
- Best Option: Gently tuck the tooth back into its empty socket and bite down gently on a clean piece of gauze or cloth.
- Second Best Option: Place the tooth in a small cup of cold milk.
- Alternative: Place the tooth inside your cheek, being very careful not to accidentally swallow it.
- Never Use Plain Tap Water: Plain water can cause the delicate root cells to swell and burst!
Head Directly to Our Office During Business Hours
Time is your greatest ally. If a tooth is replanted and treated by a dentist within 60 minutes of the accident, it has a better chance of reattaching to the jawbone. At Georgian Mall Family Dental, we offer urgent dental care during our regular business hours. If an accident happens, place the tooth in milk and come to our office for emergency dental care in Barrie.
Important Note: If your tooth gets knocked out when we are not open, please head to the nearest after-hours clinic.
Take Action Immediately with Emergency Dental Care in Barrie
A knocked-out tooth requires fast, calm, and decisive action. Come to Georgian Mall Family Dental for emergency dentistry in Barrie during our opening hours for urgent care. Quick treatment gives your natural smile the absolute best chance at a full recovery.
Dealing with an urgent dental situation? Contact us to visit our office or head to the nearest 24/7 emergency clinic.
