My husband got hit in the mouth with a shovel, now his tooth is loose, what do we do?

My husband was digging a hole outside, when the shovel handle came back and hit him in the mouth. Now his lower front tooth is loose! We don't have a dentist, or even dental insurance, but is this an emergency? Will the tooth heal by itself?? Please help, I'm very worried!!

My husband got hit in the mouth with a shovel, now his tooth is loose, what do we do?
Chances are the tooth won't heal if it is loose already. Any trauma that loosens a tooth has the high probability of causing the nerve to die, if the tooth isn't fractured already. It would be best for him to see a dentist; if the tooth doesn't die from the trauma, he may be able to splint the tooth to the two adjacent teeth, giving the loose tooth extra support until its supporting ligaments have time to heal and hopefully the tooth will survive as well. Don't play with or move the tooth excessively, avoid any hard foods or ones that he would have to bite into. Also take an Ibuprofen such as Advil or Motrin 600 mg every 4 to 6 hours; this is to reduce the inflammation and pain, helping the tooth to settle down until you can get an emergency appointment with a dentist.





Additional information: Even without insurance this is a necessary trip to the dentist.





If the tooth can be saved by splinting, it will first need to be x rayed to make sure it isn't fractured; this is about 15 to 20 dollars for a periapical x ray. The exam and office visit for a new patient is about $100.00 then the splinting is approximately $50-100 depending on the dentist and the area. So it could be as little as $220.00 unless the tooth has suffered irreversible nerve damage, then it will require a root canal and a little later a crown with a post and core build up.





First your dentist will want to make sure the tooth tightens up in the socket so it can be retained before proceeding with a root canal and crown, if this is necessary. If the nerve is inflamed due to the trauma, he may treat it with an antibiotic therapy, to help it heal, if at all possible or he may do a pulpotomy removing the nerve giving it time to heal and tighten up before proceeding with the completion of the root canal and then the crown.





The least is about the $220.00 for the splinting and the highest would be about $1500.00 to $1800.00 for the root canal and crown. You may be able to set up a payment plan for either, again this will depend upon the dentist and his office policy. I wouldn't advise waiting on having this tooth examined; its possible it can be saved with minor treatment or it may be inevitable that it will demand treatment later with a good deal of pain from an abscess or fractured tooth that could be avoided.
Reply:Hopefully all will work out well for your husband's tooth, glad to be of help. Report It

Reply:1. Why dont you have a dentist?


2. Why Dont you have Dental insurance?





First, get the insurance sorted out, Try find a local dentist.


No, it won't heal on its own, Either Pull it out


Tell your husband to be more careful Or Find a dentist.
Reply:try ringing nhs direct they might be able to give you the number for a emergency dentist it won't heal by itself
Reply:Not if it is broken below the gum line.You need an x-ray to tell that.He may have to see a dentist.If you go to the E.R. they can x-ray it and tell you.If you have insurance that may be the way to go.After all it was an accident and that's what the E.R. is for.Good luck.