Adult tooth loss is an emergency situation and requires immediate dental care. Best results for saving a lost permanent tooth occur if the tooth is reinserted into its' socket within 30 minutes and stabilized by a professional. If you are unable to immediately contact your dentist, proceed to the nearest emergency room.

Your tooth should be lifted only by its' crown and never by the roots. Holding a tooth by its roots may damage important ligaments. Gently rinse the tooth in a bowl of warm water. Do not scrub or wipe the tooth in an attempt to clean off any blood or dirt. At this point, if the patient is an adult, an attempt should be made to reinsert the tooth into its' socket. Have the injured patient gently bite down on gauze or other soft material to stabilize the tooth on the way to the dentist. This will assist in keeping the tooth in its' socket and absorb any bleeding that may occur.

The sooner the tooth is replaced in the socket, the better the chances are the tooth can be saved. This should be your first course of action. If this is not possible, proper transportation of the tooth is crucial for its' preservation.

A tooth should never be transported dry, since it will quickly be damaged. Saliva, milk or a saline solution are recommended solutions in which to transport a lost tooth to an emergency care facility. The MayoClinic.com recommends a saline solution can be made by mixing teaspoon salt to 1 quart of water. Plain water is not an adequate substitute.

Transport the patient to the nearest care facility.

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