Dental Emergency (FAQs)

Contact your pediatric or family dentist as soon as possible. However, please do note that a baby (not a  permanent) tooth cannot be replanted and hence need not be stored in Save-A -Tooth. A child of about 5 years of age and above will already start having a mixture of baby and permanent teeth in the mouth.

Q: What should I do if my child’s permanent tooth is knocked out?

Find the tooth and rinse it gently in cool water if available. (Do not scrub it or clean it with soap — use just water!).  If possible, replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze or a wash cloth.  If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk or saliva. Best of all, use Save-A -Tooth. When using Save-A-Tooth, no rinsing is necessary. Simply pick up the tooth by the crown (not the root) and drop it into the basket in Save-A-Tooth. Get to the dental office immediately.  (Call the emergency number if it’s after hours.)  The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.

Q: What is the difference between an avulsed tooth and a chipped tooth?

An avulsed or knocked-out tooth is totally removed from its socket, root and all. A chipped tooth is a broken tooth where some of the tooth remains in the socket while the remainder is broken off

Q: What if a tooth is chipped or fractured?

Contact your pediatric or family dentist immediately.  Quick action can save the tooth, prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment.  Rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling.   If you can find the broken tooth fragment, bring it with you to the dentist.

Q: What about a severe blow to the head or jaw fracture?
Go immediately to the nearest hospital emergency room.  A blow to the head can be life threatening.

Q: What if my child has a toothache?

Call your pediatric or family dentist and visit the office promptly.  To comfort your child, rinse the mouth with water.  Apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth. Do not put heat or aspirin on the sore area. Paracetamol formulated for children can be given in the appropriate dose to reduce the pain in the meantime.

Q: Can an avulsed tooth be pushed back into the socket and within what time frame?

Yes, an avulsed tooth can be replaced into its socket immediately, in fact, if done within 5 minutes of avulsion this is the best treatment. However, immediate re-implantation is often not possible for a variety of reasons. A patient is usually scared, crying, and possibly not cooperating. The patient may suffer from more serious injuries that need immediate medical attention. The first aid provider at the scene may not have the confidence or the ability to re-plant the tooth. Also, the first aid provider may be unsure of his/her capabilities/liabilities in situations of dental trauma. Finally, given that there is blood involved with this injury, many people are unwilling and/or afraid to become involved.

Hence, Save-A-Tooth provides a very convenient and effective medium to store the tooth up to 24hours for re-implantation by the dentist. It is a patented six-part device that protects knocked-out teeth from the two primary causes of replanted tooth loss: tooth root cells being crushed & tooth cell nutrient depletion. The Save-A-Tooth System uses a scientifically engineered removable basket and net to hold the tooth, and a special pH balanced preserving fluid (HBSS) that preserves and reconstitutes tooth cells.