What should I do straight after an accident involving the teeth?

Dental Trauma - Baby and Adult Teeth

It can be very distressing if you or your child has suffered trauma to the teeth. The first thing to do is not panic! 

Dental trauma is very common and there are a few steps you can follow to get the best outcome after the injury.

You should:

1. Take a second to collect yourself and check you haven't blacked out.
   If you hit your head and think you may have lost consciousness or feel nauseous or dizzy, you should get checked out by your doctor or local A&E department to rule out a concussion
   
   
2. Call your dentist as soon as possible so they can arrange to check the teeth and provide any necessary treatment.
   
   
3. If the tooth has broken, pick up any broken fragments of tooth.
   
   If the whole tooth has come out, pick it up ONLY by the crown (the white part) to avoid damaging the root surface. See here (LINK) to find out about first aid for a tooth which has been knocked out.
   
   You should place the fragments/tooth in some cold milk. Time is of the essence here - the longer a tooth is kept dry, the poorer the prognosis. If milk is not available, you can place the tooth in the gap between the lower teeth and the cheek. This is NOT a suitable option for a child who may swallow the tooth by accident.
   
   If the tooth has been pushed backwards/forwards/out of the socket, try to gently reposition it with your fingers.
   
   
4. If there is any bleeding, you should dampen a clean handkerchief in salt water and press it firmly on the bleeding area.
   
   
5. If you suffered an injury in a place thought to be unclean, you could be at risk of tetanus. You should check your tetanus vaccinations are up to date with your GP.