Seonyudo Station Dental Clinic Explains the Essential Steps to Take When a Tooth Is Injured

If a child falls and a front tooth

comes out completely,

or a tooth is severely

loosened after being hit while playing sports,

it is frightening even to imagine.

When this actually happens,

many people panic and, without thinking,

wrap the tooth in tissue,

or scrub it thoroughly under running water

because they think it is dirty.

Although these reactions are understandable,

both actions can actually make it impossible

to save the tooth,

making them critical mistakes.

Dental trauma is one of those situations where

the outcome can be completely different

depending on how you respond

before arriving at the clinic.

If the critical window is missed,

even a previously healthy tooth often cannot be saved,

so what you do immediately after the accident

is especially important.

Simply learning the correct emergency measures

in advance can greatly increase

the possibility of saving

a valuable tooth.

What should you do

in that distressing moment?

Today, Seonyudo Station Dental Clinic

will explain it step by step.

1. If the tooth has come out completely, follow these steps.

At Seonyudo Station Dental Clinic,

we refer to a situation in which

the tooth has completely

separated from the gums as an “avulsion.”

In this situation, the time available

to save the tooth is

within 30 minutes to one hour.

First, never touch the root of the tooth.

Instead, carefully hold only

the crown, or the visible part of the tooth.

Periodontal ligament cells

are attached to the surface of the root.

These cells must remain alive

for the tooth to be maintained

after replantation.

If there is debris on the tooth,

rinse it lightly under running water,

but never rub or wipe it.

Many people wrap the tooth

in tissue or dry gauze for storage,

but this dries out the periodontal ligament cells

and instead reduces

the possibility of recovery.

The best options for storage are milk,

physiological saline, or holding it

inside the cheek.

It is important to keep

the periodontal ligament cells

from drying out.

In this condition, you should immediately

visit the nearest medical facility.

2. If the tooth is loose or has shifted out of position

After trauma, a tooth may not fall out,

but it may shift out of position

or become severely loose.

Trying to force it back into place

can cause additional damage

and must never be done.

Avoid touching the tooth as much as possible,

eat only soft foods,

and make visiting a medical facility

as soon as possible your priority.

If the impact was severe,

there may be damage not only to the tooth

but also to the surrounding gums and jawbone.

It is best not to press or touch

the painful area unnecessarily.

Immediately after trauma, even if the pain is mild,

the nerves or blood vessels inside the tooth

may have been damaged.

In some cases, this may appear

several days or weeks later

as tooth discoloration

or delayed pain.

Because it is difficult to determine

that everything is fine simply because there are no symptoms,

if trauma has occurred,

it is important to visit a clinic

and have the condition of the pulp checked.

At Seonyudo Station Dental Clinic,

we carefully assess the condition of the pulp

after trauma and also determine

whether root canal treatment is necessary.

3. Follow-up observation is also necessary after trauma.

Seonyudo Station Dental Clinic explains.

Dental trauma requires

consistent observation for a certain period

even after treatment.

Even if replantation is successful,

complications may occur within several months,

such as resorption of the tooth root

or ankylosis, in which the tooth becomes fused to the bone.

Regular monitoring is therefore important.

Because an injured tooth is at risk

of gradually developing pulp necrosis,

even if there are no immediate symptoms,

it is standard practice to track its condition

over several months by repeating pulp vitality tests

and radiographic examinations.

If the pulp is confirmed to have died

during this process,

root canal treatment may be necessary.

Therefore, the treatment plan is determined

step by step over time.

In children especially,

trauma to a primary tooth

can affect the development

of the permanent tooth developing beneath it,

so more careful long-term observation is necessary.

Treatment for a traumatized tooth

does not end with a single procedure.

Observing subsequent changes

is just as important as the treatment itself.

At Seonyudo Station Dental Clinic,

we emphasize the importance of managing the tooth

step by step, from treatment immediately after the trauma

through subsequent follow-up observation.

4. Closing remarks

The key to dental trauma

is responding correctly without panicking.

Do not touch the root,

place the tooth in milk,

and visit a medical facility quickly.

Even remembering these three principles

can significantly increase

the possibility of saving the tooth.

The difference between knowing these principles

in advance and not knowing them

is greater than you might expect.

If you have young children in your family

or frequently participate in sports,

we especially recommend learning them in advance.

Accidents happen without warning,

but if you respond calmly at that moment,

there may still be a good possibility

of protecting the tooth.

Treatment for a valuable tooth

has already begun from the moment

the accident occurs.

Because traumatic accidents frequently occur

in places where children and adolescents are active,

such as schools, academies, and sports facilities,

if guardians familiarize themselves

with emergency care principles in advance,

they will be able to respond

more calmly in an emergency.

Seonyudo Station Dental Clinic reminds you

that protecting a single tooth

is connected to lifelong oral health,

and recommends preparing

for such situations.

This has been Min-young Kim,

a specialist in conservative dentistry.

Thank you.