How should you manage a patient with an avulsed tooth?

Managing a patient with an avulsed tooth involves taking immediate action to preserve the tooth and facilitate its reattachment. The best practice in treating an avulsed tooth is to rinse it gently, ideally with saline, to remove any debris without damaging the tooth’s fragile structures. If the patient is able, placing the tooth back in the original socket is the most effective method for preserving the tooth, as it maintains the tooth in its natural environment and prevents it from drying out. If re-implantation is not possible, storing the tooth in a cup of milk is recommended. Milk provides a similar environment to that of saliva, which helps keep the tooth viable until a dental professional can manage it.

This approach minimizes the risk of damage to the periodontal ligaments and increases the chances of successful reattachment. Milk is preferred over water because it has the appropriate osmolality that can help maintain the vitality of the tooth’s cells. Other options do not provide adequate preservation methods or can even risk further damage to the tooth or an increased risk of infection. For example, placing the tooth in water could lead to cell death, while putting it directly in the mouth without proper care would not conserve the vital structures necessary for reattachment. Monitoring for infection alone,