Broke a tooth? Now, you can reattach it

You don't have to go in for the more expensive and less impressive artificial implant if you follow some simple steps to take care of your dislodged tooth before you hit the clinic

Broke a tooth? Now, you can reattach it

You don't have to go in for the more expensive and less impressive artificial implant if you follow some simple steps to take care of your dislodged tooth before you hit the clinic

The next time someone swears to break your teeth, don't worry. Dentists are now equipped to implant the broken tooth, provided you take proper care of it till you reach the dental clinic.

The dentists at Government Dental College, Fort, were able to fix 22 year-old Dharmesh Patel's central incisor that took a knocking last November during a football match. After the tooth was dislodged, Patel followed his uncle's advice and dunked the tooth in a glass of milk before he could take it to a dental clinic.

Patel is happy the detists were able to replace his original dislodged tooth, allowing him to eat anything he wishes.

Explaining the procedure for the re-implant, Dr Mansingh Pawar, Dean of GDC, said, "The tooth can be re-implanted in its original position provided the patient reaches the dentist immediately after the accident.

The patient should take care to wash the tooth gently, place it in its original position and reach the hospital soon."

If the patient can't do so, Pawar said, the tooth should be kept under the tongue soaked with saliva, in a wet napkin or soaked in milk. "The patient should ensure that the tooth is not manhandled or cleaned under tap water," he said.

"This procedure is cheaper than an artificial replacements which don't look as natural as the real thing," said a postgraduate student from the conservative dentistry and endodontics department, Mahesh Khedkar.

Bandra-based cosmetic dentist Dr Mukul Dabholkar said, "Not many people are aware about methods that can help them preserve a tooth till they reach the dentist.

If kept right, we are able to successfully re-implant the tooth."u00a0 The cost of this procedure lies between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 at a private clinic.

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