A loose tooth can be alarming, especially if you’re an adult. Whether it’s because of trauma, injury or dental decay, losing a tooth can weaken your jawbone and alter your bite over time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take and tooth replacement options you can undergo to restore your teeth to their natural look and function. 

In this blog, we’ll discuss important steps to take if your tooth ever gets knocked out. We’ll also provide options for replacing your lost tooth. 

What To Do If You Lose A Tooth

Sometimes, it’s possible to successfully implant a knocked-out tooth before visiting a dentist. Here’s what you need to do if you lose a tooth:

• Carefully pick up the tooth by the crown (the top part), not the root.
• Don’t try to rub or scrape the tooth, as doing so can damage the root surface, making the tooth less likely to survive.
• If your tooth is dirty, gently rinse it with a bowl of lukewarm water to remove any debris. Don’t hold the tooth under running water.
• Try to place your fallen tooth back into the socket and gently hold it in place with a moistened paper towel until you see your dentist.
• If you’re unable to put your tooth back into the socket, place it in a glass of cold milk or your own saliva. 

Contact your dentist immediately if you’ve lost a tooth. At Dental Image Therapy Centres, we provide emergency dental care and the quicker we can take a look, the better it will be for your smile. Call our clinics if you’ve lost an adult tooth.

Replacement Options 

When you come in for your appointment, we can recommend several options to replace your lost teeth. 

Dental Implants

A dental implant replaces damaged tooth roots with metal, screwlike posts and missing teeth with artificial ones. Implants are a long-term solution for tooth replacement as they can last for decades. They’re comfortable and look like natural teeth. 

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is typically made up of an artificial tooth fused between two crowns (an artificial tooth that fits over a natural tooth or a dental implant). They’re fixed prosthetic devices cemented on existing teeth or implants. With proper care, a bridge can last for 10 years or longer. 

Dentures

If you have several missing teeth, we would recommend dentures which are removable artificial replacements for your natural teeth and gums. There are two types of dentures: partial and complete. For both denture types, your dentist will make a model of your teeth by taking impressions.

To learn more about what happens if you don’t get your missing tooth replaced, we suggest you read our previous Ask A Dentist blog on the topic. 

If you lost your tooth or are missing several teeth, don’t delay booking an appointment with our dentists to discuss your treatment options. Timely treatment will restore the look and function of your smile and prevent oral health issues in the future. Give us a call today or visit us at one of our Winnipeg clinics in Garden City Shopping Centre and St. Vital Centre.