Emergency Dental of Garland handles knocked-out tooth emergencies with the urgency they require. If a tooth has just been knocked out, call 254-784-8688 right now. Every minute counts.
A knocked-out permanent tooth is one of the most time-sensitive dental emergencies. The good news: if you get to us fast enough, we can often reimplant the tooth and save it. Reimplantation success rates are highest within the first 30 minutes.
What to Do Immediately After a Tooth Is Knocked Out
Follow these steps right away. They dramatically increase the chances of saving the tooth:
- Find the tooth. Pick it up by the crown (the white part). Never touch the root. The root has delicate cells that are essential for reattachment.
- Rinse it gently. If the tooth is dirty, hold it under lukewarm running water for no more than 10 seconds. Do not scrub it, soap it, or wrap it in tissue.
- Try to reimplant it. If you can, slide the tooth back into its socket facing the right way. Bite down gently on a clean cloth to hold it in place.
- If you cannot reimplant it, place the tooth in a glass of cold milk. Milk keeps the root cells alive. Your own saliva works too: you can hold the tooth between your cheek and gum. Do not store it in water.
- Call us immediately at 254-784-8688. Tell us a tooth has been knocked out and we will clear a slot for you right away.
How We Reimplant and Save Knocked-Out Teeth
When you arrive, we numb the area and carefully clean both the tooth and the socket. We reimplant the tooth and stabilize it with a flexible splint that bonds to the neighbouring teeth. The splint stays in place for about two weeks while the tooth reattaches to the bone and ligament.
We will take X-rays to check for fractures in the root or the surrounding bone. In some cases, a root canal is needed after reimplantation, but not always. We monitor the tooth closely with follow-up visits to make sure it is healing properly.
When Reimplantation Is Not Possible
Sometimes a knocked-out tooth cannot be saved. The root may be fractured, too much time may have passed, or the socket may be too damaged. When that happens, we discuss your replacement options:
- Dental implant: The gold standard for replacing a single missing tooth. A titanium post replaces the root, and a custom crown sits on top. Looks and functions like a real tooth. Learn about emergency dental implants.
- Dental bridge: A fixed restoration that uses the neighbouring teeth for support. A good option when an implant is not suitable.
- Partial denture: A removable option that can be made quickly as a temporary solution while a permanent replacement is planned.
Preventing Dental Trauma in Garland
Many knocked-out teeth happen during sports and physical activities. If you or your children play contact sports, basketball, soccer, or even skateboard, a custom mouthguard is the single best investment you can make to protect teeth. We can fit you for one at your visit.
If you need an emergency dentist in Garland, TX for a knocked-out tooth or any other dental emergency, call 254-784-8688 immediately. We also treat patients from broken tooth emergencies and other urgent situations.
For a full overview of our 24/7 urgent care, visit our main emergency dentist in Garland, TX page.