How to Treat a Knocked Out Tooth

Posted on: 21 April 2017

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Sometimes a tooth needs to be removed because it has decayed so much that it cannot be saved. However, the situation of a missing tooth can be trickier to manage if the tooth has come out because of some sort of trauma. Being hit in the jaw or suffering a sporting injury to the face are common reasons why you might lose a tooth. If this case applies to you, then what can your dentist do about it?

Dealing With Damaged Gums

When a tooth has come out unnaturally due to being forcibly struck, there is usually some damage to the gum as well. If the gum is not badly affected, then it may be possible to replace your tooth with bridgework or by fitting dentures. However, this usually means working on the adjacent teeth sometimes grinding them down a little to accept the new prosthetic. In many cases, the gum is capable of healing after the knocked out tooth has been fully removed. If your gum does heal and is looked after, then it will be able to accept a new prosthetic tooth attached to a small post. An implant can be inserted into your mouth which fuses to the jawbone and allows a replacement artificial tooth to be fitted.

Modern Dental Implants

Among the teeth replacement options available, dental implants are becoming increasingly popular among dental professionals and patients. They are especially useful if you have suffered trauma to a tooth but the surrounding gum has healed fully. Without the need for support from other teeth close by, they look just like real teeth and provide something that can be used for biting into foods as well as chewing. There are two main types: endosteal and subperiosteal implants.

  • Endosteal implants are placed directly into the jawbone by a surgical procedure. The surrounding gum tissue needs to be able to heal once more after this has been done. Only then can a further operation be conducted to attach a post to the original implant. It is this post to which a prosthetic tooth is subsequently added.

  • Subperiosteal implants use a metal frame with posts already in situ. This is implanted in the jaw just below the gum. As the gum begins to heal, the lower part of the metalwork fuses with the jawbone and becomes firmly fixed in place. However, no further surgery is required to attach posts since these are left sticking out, protruding from the gum line. Again, a prosthetic tooth or teeth can be attached to these posts as required.