Treatment of an Avulsed Tooth in Same Day Dentistry

A dislodged tooth, which is also called an avulsed tooth, requires same day dentistry treatment. The condition is usually a result of the tooth being forcefully pushed out or into its socket due to a traumatic incident like a fall or an accident. To prevent the need for tooth loss or an invasive procedure like root canal treatment, the avulsed tooth must be treated as soon as possible.

Treating an avulsed tooth

If the tooth has dislodged from its socket, patients should clean and store the tooth properly before heading to the dental office. The dentist will start the treatment by administering a local anesthetic and cleaning the affected part. If the tooth is intact at the gum, the dentist will try to reposition and stabilize the tooth. Afterward, an x-ray scan will be required to check for fractures or damage to the root’s nerves or blood vessels.

The dental professional may also recommend further tests to assess the extent of the injury. If there is permanent damage to the nerve, root, or blood vessels, a root canal treatment will be recommended to prevent an abscess, which is a severe tooth infection.

If the child’s tooth is avulsed, the treatment process may not be as complicated because their permanent teeth are still developing. If it is a permanent tooth, parents must take the child to the dentist immediately to save and reposition the tooth.

Generally, there are three main methods for saving an avulsed tooth: using composite resin to bond the tooth, bonding an orthodontic bracket to each of the affected teeth then connecting them with a wire, and bonding a metal mesh to the back of the avulsed teeth.

Important points to note about avulsed tooth

The good news about a knocked-out tooth is that it can be restored to its socket to retake hold. The bad news is that the tooth has a low chance of long-term survival — the chances reduce significantly if the reinsertion does not happen within an hour of the initial incident.

Outside the minimum timeframe, it is almost unavoidable that the tooth root will not retain its hold in the tissues of the gum and bone. Instead, the tooth root may integrate with the bone directly instead of the ligament, causing a situation called ankylosis. This will eventually cause tooth resorption and tooth loss.

Essentially, the success of the treatment following an injury depends on the time taken to replace the avulsed tooth into its socket. The earlier the dental appointment, the higher the chances of the tooth’s survival.

The bottom line

Note that without dental treatment for an avulsed tooth, there is a high risk of losing the tooth or developing tooth infection. It is important to follow the guidelines provided by the dentist regarding follow-up care and cleaning.

When the tooth is back in its proper position, it can take at least seven to 10 days to heal and set inside its socket. If upon further tests, it looks like there is damage to the tooth’s nerves and blood vessels, then additional treatments will be done immediately to save the tooth.

Request an appointment here: https://www.carlosesanchezdds.com or call Carlos E. Sanchez, DDS at (209) 690-1118 for an appointment in our Tracy office.

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