Teeth that have been knocked out are known as avulsed teeth, and they should be considered dental emergencies. Whether because they are experiencing little pain or because they don't know that some teeth can be successfully reimplanted, many people wait for a few hours or even for a day or more to visit their dentist when a tooth has been knocked out.
Here are just four reasons why you should instead see an emergency dentist as soon as possible.
1. Teeth Can Be Saved
When it comes to avulsed teeth, every minute counts. Contacting an emergency dentist right away means they can tell you exactly how to store or treat the lost tooth, and visiting an emergency dentist as soon as possible can greatly increase the chance of successful reinsertion. Simply waiting more than an hour after the tooth has left your mouth can greatly decrease its chances of being successfully reinserted.
2. Pain Can Be Avoided
When a tooth is knocked out, some patients experience very minimal pain. However, this does not always last. You may find that pain grows significantly over time, and over-the-counter pain relief won't always blunt it as much as you might like. By seeing an emergency dentist as soon as possible, they can take steps to prevent pain from getting worse and prescribe stronger painkillers if required. Even if the tooth cannot be successfully reinserted, it's well worth avoiding the high levels of pain that can develop.
3. Infections Can Be Prevented
Since knocked-out teeth leave a gap in your gums, it's possible for bacteria and plaque to invade. You might not experience any symptoms at first, but this can lead to serious infections that may impact your teeth, gums, or jawbone. To prevent this from happening, an emergency dentist can clean the affected area, seal it if necessary, and prescribe antibiotics.
4. Surrounding Teeth Can Be Checked
If one of your teeth has been struck hard enough to completely knock it out, there's always a chance surrounding teeth have also been damaged. The blow that knocked out one tooth will probably have placed pressure on those around it, and the tooth itself can push down hard on others as it is knocked out. You might not be aware of the damage, but it's possible that surrounding teeth could have sustained anything from chips to cracked fillings. An emergency dentist can check for such issues and see that they are treated as soon as possible.
For more info, contact a local emergency dentist.
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