Having a tooth knocked out can be a painful and traumatic experience that may leave some feeling incomplete. However, it should be noted that saving a tooth is possible if the proper steps are taken.

Find the tooth or teeth that have been knocked out and put them into a cup of milk for transfer to the dentist. The tooth should be rinsed with water but not scrubbed. Make sure that the cup or container is airtight and is clean of any residue. The calcium in the milk will fortify the tooth and also give additional time for it to be saved. If the tooth dries out or is not put into milk, the chances of the tooth dying is higher and survival is minimized. The drying of the tooth should be avoided at all costs in order to save it. Avoid handling the tooth by the root and hold it by the crown to prevent any type of bacterial infection. If possible, try to put the tooth into the socket and keep it in place with a piece of medical gauze
This will also absorb blood while allowing you to safely hold the tooth in the socket. Tooth pain relief can also be given by swishing the mouth with a saline solution but is only temporary.

Next, it is best to contact an emergency dentist to have the tooth put back into place as quickly as possible. In Sacramento, dentists can be found in the yellow pages. It is important to understand that time is key to the survival of the tooth or teeth. An emergency dentist that is given the appropriate amount of time will have the highest probability of saving the tooth and stabilizing it within the patient’s mouth. An emergency dentist in Sacramento will also provide tooth pain relief by administering Novocain to the area to allow for a pain-free recovery. While at home, temporary tooth pain relief can be solved by applying Orajel or by taking ibuprofen while waiting for the dentist.

Finding an emergency dentist in Sacramento should not be a problem since there are various doctors available. Remember, two hours is the maximum time frame that is typically allowed for a tooth to be out of the socket and still have the chance to survive. A tooth that has been knocked out can be successfully restored when the right steps are taken. Furthermore, restoring your smile to its previous state can be done with the right knowledge on how to successfully transfer the tooth to the dentist for repair.