Actions to Take If You Lose a Tooth

Losing teeth as a child is natural as permanent teeth grow into place. Tooth loss as an adult can be permanent if you do not seek prompt treatment from your dentist.

Whether your tooth fell out due to acute trauma or prolonged dental disease, you should call your dental professional as soon as possible. Dr. David Rever, a dentist in Silver Spring, MD, explains what you should do if you lose a tooth.

Schedule an Emergency Dentist Appointment

You should call your dentist to let them know that your tooth has fallen out as soon as possible. If they have emergency dentistry services, they should be able to schedule you for a prompt appointment. They may recommend another facility with more availability if necessary.

Whether the tooth is fully intact or not, you should still recover the tooth and bring it to your appointment. Rinse the tooth gently to clean it.

If possible, you should place the tooth back into the socket to preserve it. You can soak it in a saline solution if this is not a viable option.

Evaluate Tooth Replacement Options

There is a small window where your dentist can successfully restore your natural tooth back into place if it has fallen out due to impact trauma and is still intact. If the tooth is damaged or decayed, your dentist might not be able to put it back in its socket.

You can discuss tooth replacement dental treatments with your dentist if this is the case. A missing tooth can detract from your smile’s appearance and also cause other oral health concerns if left untreated.

Patients with tooth loss can find a permanent replacement solution with a single dental implant. The dentist places a titanium post in your jaw and secures a prosthetic tooth to this base.

Your dentist can evaluate your dental health to determine your eligibility for this restorative treatment. If your jaw is not strong enough to support an implant, your dentist may suggest alternative treatment options.

Advanced Total Dental Care provides single dental implants and other tooth replacement solutions for patients in Silver Spring, MD. Dr. Rever accepts patients of all ages for their restorative, cosmetic, and general dentistry needs.