Frequently Asked Questions

Injuries

Date Posted: 12/1/2001

Question Will a root canal be necessary?

Answer Your dentist will monitor the vitality of any injured tooth and advise you if endodontic (root filling) treatment is necessary. Teeth that have been knocked out commonly require endodontic (root filling) treatment. SAVE THAT KNOCKED OUT TOOTH An adult tooth that has been knocked out should be immediately put back into the socket if possible, and you should see a dentist immediately! You should avoid touching the root section of the tooth. If the tooth is very dirty, rinse it quickly, preferably with milk, and replace it in the socket, using the position and shape of the teeth either side as a guide. If the tooth has been out for a period of time it may be difficult to replace correctly . You can hold the tooth in position by folding several thickness of aluminium foil over the tooth and the teeth either side or hold in place with fingers. If you can’t replace the tooth in its socket, the next best thing is to put it in a glass of milk and take it to a dentist immediately. If you don’t have access to milk, place it in plastic wrap, and again, get to a dentist straight away! Handle the tooth as little as possible and do not touch the root section of the tooth. The sooner a knocked out tooth is replaced, the better the long-term prognosis for the tooth. Teeth replaced within thirty minutes have a good chance of surviving long term, but it is well worth replacing a tooth even if it has been out for a number of hours Your dentist will stabilise a knocked out tooth by joining it to the neighbouring tooth for a period of time while the injury heals

More questions in this category:

Injuries Introduction
What do I do first?
What if a tooth is broken, loose or missing?
What can be done?
Will a root canal be necessary?