Emergencies

New Help for Knocked Out Teeth

It must be soccer season again...here comes another call from the school: "Sandy just knocked out her front permanent tooth. We're bringing her right over."

It used to be that knocking out a grown-up tooth was a true dental emergency. We had only a half hour to get it back into the socket before it would be lost forever.

New research, however, shows that if we get a tooth immediately into cold milk, we have around four hours before the delicate cells die and the tooth cannot be re-implanted.

Saving a knocked out permanent tooth has become slightly less of an emergency thanks to the invention of the Save-A-Tooth Kit.

These small containers have a special liquid very similar to what's used in transporting organs for transplants.  The solution can keep the delicate cells on the roots of knocked-out teeth alive for hours instead of minutes.

Our office has donated these little containers to all the schools in the Upland area, but if you know of a school that doesn't have one in the Nurse's Office, please have them call us and we'll pop one over.

You can also pick one up at the office at minimal cost.

And don't panic if it's just a baby tooth that gets knocked out.  These rarely need to be re-implanted.

The best trick, though, when a tooth is knocked out, is to put it right back into the socket. Then, go directly to the dentist.

Even better: prevent the injury by wearing a mouthguard!

We have a very short video available discussing new technology in mouthguards. We'd love to send you one and hope you'll give it to any coaches or trainers you know. Just contact us and we'll send one out.

EMERGENCIES

Emergency coverage is provided at all times. Please call the office number,
981-6400, if you need care. (Let the phone ring to contact the answering service.) The doctor carries a pager. In the event that Dr. Domb is not available, another dentist will have been designated with the answering service.

If you cannot reach the office, please call Dr. Domb at home, 985-5165. As a last resort, you may call the Loma Linda University Hospital Dentistry Service at 796-7311. Or just 911.

We are especially concerned about bleeding, swelling, fever or teeth that are knocked out or loosened.

Bleeding

Bleeding may be controlled by direct pressure on the bleeding site. If this is not enough, immediate care should be sought with the dental office or the emergency room service at the nearest hospital.

Knocked-out Teeth

Knocked out teeth should be replaced immediately in their sockets if possible. They may also be kept inside the lip or in milk to remain wet until the patient can see the dentist. *Time is really critical here if the tooth is going to be saved.*

Please do not wash off a knocked-out tooth with anything but a brief rinse of water, saliva or milk. Disinfectants can cause permanent damage.

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