As a family dental office, we frequently work with parents to help them navigate the transitional period when their children lose their teeth. But when an adult or a teenager loses a tooth, it brings up a lot of very different questions. Losing baby teeth is a natural progression in oral health, but if an adult tooth is knocked out while playing sports or gets damaged from dental decay to the point it needs to be removed, you may need to consider tooth replacement options. Here at All Star Dental, in Chicago, we have five different dental offices that help teens and parents navigate their options if and when they lose adult teeth. And as such, we have often helped answer common questions for our patients, which is why we have created this quick guide on some of the most frequently asked questions.
Sometimes reimplantation is possible for a knocked-out tooth, but it requires the individual to get to the dentist right away. Ideally, you should see the dentist within an hour of the tooth getting knocked out. Moreover, it is important that the tooth is properly handled. Never touch the root of the tooth (the part that is usually under the gums) and make sure the tooth is submerged in either milk or a tooth-saving saline solution (frequently found in first aid kits). Otherwise, if possible, you can carry the tooth in your mouth by holding it between your lip and gum, although it is usually easier to submerge it in either milk or saline.
There are three major categories of causes for adult tooth loss. First, there is a sudden injury. For example, many athletes, especially those in contact sports, are at a higher risk of losing a tooth due to a sudden collision. This is very common for hockey players, football players, or boxers. The next category is related to decay and bacteria. When bacteria start to affect a tooth, it causes the formation of dental cavities. But over time, decay can spread deeper into a tooth. After a while, decay can cause the tooth to loosen and fall out. Likewise, gum disease can similarly cause teeth to fall out as gums recede. Finally, teeth sometimes need to be removed due to crowding. For example, it is common for wisdom teeth to be extracted purely because there is not sufficient space for them to fit within the mouth. In these cases, it is common not to need tooth replacement.
This depends on your specific insurance plan. That said, many dental insurance plans provide some form of coverage for restorative dental procedures or medically necessary procedures. This can include dental bridges. But again, the best thing you can do is check with your plan to learn whether or not there are deductibles, co-pays, prior authorization requirements, or other elements that affect your coverage.
Here at All Star Dental, we have five dental offices throughout the Chicagoland area. Give us a call or visit our individual office pages to get in touch with one of our teams. They can help answer your questions you have and help you schedule a dental appointment.
