As a general rule, repositioning is done as an avulsion treatment for temporary teeth, also called deciduous teeth. A dental avulsion is the complete displacement of a tooth from its socket, usually by impact. Usually, the teeth most affected are the upper central incisors.
In children, the best possible treatment is to implant the tooth to try to regenerate the tissue . What does this treatment involve? What are the results? Read on to learn more.
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What happens to the tooth after avulsion?
When a tooth comes out of the gum completely, the connective fibers that connect it to the gum break. In addition, the vascular and nerve network that allows blood and nerve currents to reach the tooth is also damaged.
How to keep teeth safe
The less time that is wasted once the tooth has been removed from the mouth, the more successful the treatment can be. This is why repositioning a baby tooth is considered an emergency.
The most important part of this process is to avoid touching the tooth or cleaning it with a tissue or something similar. By removing the remaining layer at the root of the tooth, you are removing any possible fibers that may still be there.
There are several solutions that you can put the tooth in until you get to the dental clinic. The ideal liquid solution to dip it in is Hank’s solution .
- Hank’s solution is a cultivation method that allows the tooth root to maintain the correct pH levels to prevent it from receding. It is available from your pharmacy.
- The second best liquid to protect a tooth is milk, preferably fat-free. It preserves the vitality of fibroblasts for 3 hours.
- If you do not have any of these items, you can put them in physiological serum.
- If you don’t have that either, you can store it in water or if you don’t have any liquid, it can be stored in saliva. In the case of saliva, the ideal place to keep it safe is under the tongue so you don’t swallow it.
How is milk tooth repositioned?
First of all, the dentist will check the entire affected area to rule out any fractures or tears that may require stitches or other injuries . After making sure that everything is in order, the doctor will gently wash the alveolus with physiological saline.
Preparation of the tooth
If you soak the tooth in any of the above mentioned substances, no preparation is required. However, we recommend that the tooth be placed in Hank’s solution for a few minutes prior to treatment.
Whenever you need to touch a tooth, hold it by the crown and avoid touching the root. It also needs to remain moist. The longer the tooth is out of the mouth and in a dry environment, the worse the prognosis for replantation.
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Placement of milk teeth
The dentist gently places the tooth into the gingival alveolus until it reaches its place. Once in place, it must be splinted by the dentist, that is, attached to the adjacent teeth to provide support. The splint is normally made with a semi-rigid wire inside the tooth, very similar to that placed after braces are removed.
The dentist should always take an x-ray to make sure the tooth is in place and that there are no problems within the bone. The last thing the specialist should check is if the tooth is occluded. It should be slightly in the air so that it does not experience too much force while chewing .
Pharmacological treatment
Your dentist will usually prescribe medications to control possible infection and inflammation. They may also prescribe painkillers to ease the pain of the impact and procedure .
Controls
The dentist should check the tooth after 1 week, 3 weeks, 2 months, 6 months and 1 year after the procedure. All of these dentist appointments are to make sure that everything is going well and that there is no infection in the tooth.
Results of milk tooth repositioning
When repositioning a baby tooth, we must always take into account the child’s age and the degree of development of the permanent teeth to avoid possible injuries. When in doubt, we must always prioritize the well-being of the adult tooth. If the tooth that has fallen out in trauma is an adult tooth, it is an optional procedure for those who want to reposition it.
