Tooth falling out

[andyquantum]

It's been a while since I last went to a dentist, probably too long but I just havent needed to go there since my early teens.

Anyway, I have a loose tooth so I should probably see a dentist. I'm not registered with anyone and I called up the local place who said they'd take on new patients in February. If I was a private patient then I could join immediately and have the next available appointment on Tuesday next week.

So, seeing as work offer a reimbursement for dental work I've booked that but my question is has anyone else had a loose tooth, and what do you do if it falls out? Sort of thing A+E will take care of, do I need an emergency dentist or something, or just live with it til Tuesday?

My thinking is I've got plenty more teeth so missing one wont hurt etc

[BoRED S2upid]

If it falls out thats it isn't it. Your one down and have to make do with all the others. All a dentist is going to do is help it along and maybe put one stitch in to stop any bleeding. Rip it out yourself and be a man.

[Neil_H]

AFAIK teeth don't just fall out for no reason so I'd be more concerned at what caused it to fall out rather than the tooth itself. You may have gum disease or something.

[Taita]

BoRED S2upid said:

If it falls out thats it isn't it. Your one down and have to make do with all the others. All a dentist is going to do is help it along and maybe put one stitch in to stop any bleeding. Rip it out yourself and be a man.

DON'T rip it out

[Davi]

A mate had a tooth that was knocked out re-set into place, so I'd assume if nothing was wrong with it or the socket one that just falls out could also be re-set somehow?

[andyquantum]

I ttted myself in the face when a breaker bar slipped and it's a bit wobbly. Can feel it move slightly with my tongue pressed against it.

Think I'll ask them for a bridge or something, was just curious if it fell out before the appointment whether it's normal to do something about it, like see them earlier or something

[Simpo Two]

Neil_H said:

AFAIK teeth don't just fall out for no reason so I'd be more concerned at what caused it to fall out rather than the tooth itself. You may have gum disease or something.

Quite. Teeth shouldn't just be falling out.

[GordonL]

When did you hit it? There's loads of things that it could be, but it could be save able if you get to the dentist fast enough... try to stop wiggling it, I'm sure it's your tongues favourite toy at the moment, but you're not helping it!

--
Gordon

[andyquantum]

GordonL said:

When did you hit it? There's loads of things that it could be, but it could be save able if you get to the dentist fast enough... try to stop wiggling it, I'm sure it's your tongues favourite toy at the moment, but you're not helping it!

--
Gordon

Cheers for the advice. This was from over the weekend - pretty much a straight smack in the face as it goes

[mark69sheer]

andyquantum said:

I ttted myself in the face when a breaker bar slipped and it's a bit wobbly. Can feel it move slightly with my tongue pressed against it.

Think I'll ask them for a bridge or something, was just curious if it fell out before the appointment whether it's normal to do something about it, like see them earlier or something

feed it with milk and it may set itself back in over a week or so.and no this isn't a wind up. If it hurts with pressure then it may be fractured however if it's just loose it may restabilise.

[Neil_H]

andyquantum said:

I ttted myself in the face when a breaker bar slipped and it's a bit wobbly. Can feel it move slightly with my tongue pressed against it.

Think I'll ask them for a bridge or something, was just curious if it fell out before the appointment whether it's normal to do something about it, like see them earlier or something

In that case I'd make them aware of what the problem is and maybe ask them for advice, perhaps ask for an emergency appointment. If it's healthy then it should be saveable I think, but you obviously need to limit the damage.

There are some dentists on here who could help, I can't remember their names though.

Edited for smelling mispakes

Edited by Neil_H on Monday 13th October 16:53

[BlackMagic *tree]

If it does fall out (before appointment) doesn't putting into milk help?

I heard.

[GordonL]

Putting in milk can buy you a bit of time, if you're careful not to swallow it, keeping it in your mouth so it's bathed in saliva is even better. It's important not to touch the root surface too much and get help as fast as possible, ideally inside 20 mins!

As for the OP, if the tooth wasn't completely knocked out by the blow, then either...
1) The ligament holding the tooth in place has been damaged. If the tooth is attended to quickly and stabilised, then the prognosis is really good. Weekend to Tuesday is maybe pushing your luck a bit, but nowt you can do about it now.

2) The root has been fractured. Usually not such a good prognosis, depends how far up the root fracture has happened. If it's becoming more loose and more painful, this is more likely unfortunately.

--
Gordon
Dentist (supposedly) on holiday

[OJ]

My girlfriend is training to be a Hygeinist so I get bored to tears testing her with this kind of stuff every time she has an exam... So I'm not a dentist so don't take this as gospel but if I remember rightly

Tooth is held in by a Periodontal ligament. If the tooth is wobbly after you've clobbered it you've either stretched/ripped the ligament or the tooth is broken below the gum line.

They're 'designed' to have some give so if you didn't hit it that hard you might have had a Periodontal Disease which has made the ligaments weak and in clobbering it you've just unveiled a problem that would have arisen in 10 years time.

Whichever way you need to see a dentist otherwise it might lead to other problems.

Not sure if the ligaments 'recover' if they're healthy but if not you've probably lost the tooth, or it will remain wobbley

Edit - Beaten to it by a real dentist!

Edited by OJ on Monday 13th October 17:01

[Rach*]

OJ said:

My girlfriend is training to be a Hygeinist so I get bored to tears testing her with this kind of stuff every time she has an exam... So I'm not a dentist so don't take this as gospel but if I remember rightly

Tooth is held in by a Periodontal ligament. If the tooth is wobbly after you've clobbered it you've either stretched/ripped the ligament or the tooth is broken below the gum line.

They're 'designed' to have some give so if you didn't hit it that hard you might have had a Periodontal Disease which has made the ligaments weak and in clobbering it you've just unveiled a problem that would have arisen in 10 years time.

Whichever way you need to see a dentist otherwise it might lead to other problems.

Not sure if the ligaments 'recover' if they're healthy but if not you've probably lost the tooth, or it will remain wobbley

Edit - Beaten to it by a real dentist!

Edited by OJ on Monday 13th October 17:01

Someone's been paying attention

[OJ]

Rach* said:

Someone's been paying attention

And to think she accuses me of not listening to her Just goes to prove that my mind relentlessly absorbs everything I DON'T need to know!

Its bloody complicated some of it too!

[audidoody]

Oh .. and if a tooth falls out you'll find the others will move to fill up the space and your bite will change.

Do you smoke? Top cause of gum disease.

[Driller]

If your tooth is loose and it hasn't had a traumatic injury then you probably have chronic adult periodontitis and all this talk of milk etc is not going to make any difference.

Get to your dentist ASAP. Give up smoking if you smoke and make sure you keep your teeth/gums scrupulously clean.

[Dominic H]

Sorry for the OT.
Driller, I had an apisectomy last week with sedation. I have a couple of questions;
How long do soluable stitches last, do they come out cleanly or should the Oral surgery snip them out?
How long before I can resume playing footy (risk of contact)?
I didn't get a chance to ask the surgeon as I was quietly terrified beforehand and drooling in a chair with complete amnesia afterwards....

OP good luck with the tooth!

[andyquantum]

Mate you go ahead, I've just got a loose tooth whereas your nobs fallen off.

Good luck with it