Dental emergencies happen, even when you’re on vacation, and it’s important to take care of the situation right away. To help you care for a knocked-out tooth while you’re away from home, our dentist, Dr. Anthony Petchalonis, and dental team have some tips and information for you.
The first thing you should do is contact a local dental office. When you talk to them, explain the situation and schedule an emergency appointment. This is important because you need to have the tooth treated within an hour of it falling out of your mouth. To save time, take care of any insurance or health questions over the phone so you don’t have to wait in the lobby when you arrive.
The second thing you should do is pick up the tooth by the crown. The crown is the white section of the tooth that was visible when the tooth was still in the gum socket. Next, rinse the tooth with warm water to wash away any blood and debris. When you wash it, do not scrub. Scrubbing will only damage the tooth further.
The third thing you should do is try to put the tooth back into its socket. All you need to do is slide the tooth back into the jawbone. When you do this, make sure the tooth is facing forward. If this step isn’t possible, make sure to keep the tooth alive by placing it between your cheek and gums, in a tooth-preservation product, or in a glass of milk.
Call Petchalonis Dental & Associates at 215-732-3350 if you have any questions or concerns. Although you’re away from our office, our dental team in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will be more than happy to help you through this situation. We look forward to helping you!