An avulsed or knocked-out tooth can have several complications. In most of these cases, the initial trauma is so severe that the tooth simply cannot be saved by conventional means. A dentist or oral surgeon needs to extract the root and suture the gums to treat the pain and prevent infection.
Even if you become accustomed to the impaired ability to chew and any cosmetic effects, the empty socket can still cause problems. Before it was knocked out, the original tooth provided critical structure for the surrounding teeth. Once it is lost, the neighboring teeth will slowly start to turn and migrate toward the void. As this happens, you are put at a greater and greater risk of suffering chips and fractures on the corresponding teeth in your bite.
To prevent these complications, many dentists will refer patients to our oral surgeon, Dr. Michael Shnayder, to have a dental implant installed. This is essentially a titanium abutment that is screwed directly into your jawbone.
If the trauma of having the tooth knocked out was so severe that it also compromised the surrounding bone tissues, we might recommend a bone graft be placed in advance of the dental implant.
After any necessary bone grafts and dental implants have been installed, they will fuse with the surrounding bone tissues in a natural process known as osseointegration. Once this has been achieved, your general dentist can go about the basic process of fitting you for a standard dental crown.
With proper care and good oral hygiene, you can expect the dental implant to restore the structure, function, and appearance of the knocked-out tooth for years to come.
If you’ve recently had a tooth knocked out in Omaha, Nebraska, and you are concerned about the potential complications, you should call Village Pointe Oral Surgery at 402-317-5657 to explore your restoration options.