Dr. Robert D. Wernick, DDS

Wernick Family Dentistry

2004 Sandbridge Rd Suite 100

Virginia Beach, VA 23456

757-721-0220

Sports Knock Out!

What to do if a tooth is knocked out.....

It is estimated that more than 5 million teeth are knocked out each year. If by accident or sports

injury the first 30 to 60 minutes are the most critical. If a tooth can be re-implanted within 15-30

minutes after the accident, there is a greater than 90% chance the tooth will be retained for life.

Re-implantation after 60 minutes results in teeth that rarely heal.

No attempt should be made to reinsert a primary (baby) tooth due to the chance of damaging the

underlying permanent tooth. However, time is critical for re-implanting a permanent tooth.

What to do:

~ Find the knocked out tooth

~ Hold it by the crown (top part) only; do not touch, rub or clean root

~Gently remove debris if present; rinse it under cold water, do not scrub.

~Immediately re-implant tooth firmly. This is the most critical and difficult part.

If you are squeamish, find someone willing to help. Get to or call your dentist immediately.

~If re-implantation is not possible transport tooth to your dentist. The most important thing is

to not let the tooth dry out. Place tooth in cold milk or water. Call your dentist

immediately and get to his or her office quickly.

~A dental evaluation will be performed. The tooth will be re-implanted and stabilized by

splinting to the adjacent teeth. An antibiotic will be prescribed and a Tetanus Vaccine

will be recommended if not given in last 5 years.

The dentist will perform endodontic treatment to remove the damaged nerve tissue injured by the

trauma. How long the tooth was out of the mouth prior to seeing the dentist and the condition of

the tooth may influence the overall success of saving the tooth. Some teeth may not reattach and

may be lost.