| Remember, if you act quickly and get to your dentist as soon as possible, there's a good chance the tooth can be saved. What Your Dentist Will Do
Putting the tooth back in place is a simple procedure. Your dentist will use water to flush debris from the tooth socket. Then he or she will slip the tooth back into place. The tooth may be splinted to adjacent teeth with plastic resin and orthodontic wire. This keeps the tooth stable so it can heal and reattach. The tooth does not always reattach in the right way. If it doesn't reattach properly, the tooth may eventually fuse to the jawbone. If this happens, the root of the tooth can erode or be reabsorbed into the body. This occurs slowly. Your dentist will monitor this condition and may suggest further treatment such as a root canal. The nerves and blood vessels that were severed when the tooth was knocked out often don't heal. If this happens, the tooth may begin to darken. This is usually a sign that you will probably need to have root canal treatment. If you do not get treatment, the tooth will weaken and be more likely to break and crack. If this happens, you are more likely to develop an abscess, which is an infection. Sometimes, you will not know that you have an infection, but if you see something near the damaged tooth that looks like a pimple that comes and goes, you should see your dentist. ©2002-2005 Aetna, Inc. All rights reserved. Reviewed by the faculty of Columbia University College of Dental Medicine | 
