The
Redwoods Group Insurance Program for YMCAs
Risk Management
Alert
Topic: Saving knocked-out teeth
Every year five million
teeth are knocked from the mouth in which they belong. Ninety percent of
these teeth could have been reinserted if proper preservation methods had
been employed at the time of the incident. People often bring the dislodged
tooth to the dentist in the hope that it can be reused or replanted, but
generally without having taken the necessary preliminary steps to keep the
tooth viable. One myth to which credence is paid is that submerging the
tooth in milk will preserve it. The truth is that the main component of
teeth is enamel, which is one of the hardest substances in the body, but
once a tooth is out of the mouth it begins dying in just 15 minutes. Within
two hours the tooth is frequently dead. The only way a tooth can be saved
for reinsertion is to keep the periodontal ligament, a thin layer of cells
surrounding the tooth, alive.
A good way to keep a
tooth alive is to utilize a device developed by Dr. Paul R. Krasner, a
professor at Temple University School of Dentistry and a contributing
editor to The Journal of Endodontics. Dr. Krasner has patented
a system that addresses the two primary causes of replanted tooth loss:
tooth cell crushing and tooth cell dehydration. A specially designed basket
holds the tooth in a pH-balanced solution that preserves and reconstitutes
the periodontal ligament of the submerged tooth. A tooth that has been
out of the mouth and placed in the solution within two hours can be preserved
for up to four days, giving doctors time to utilize the tooth in repairing
the injury. The kit, called Save-A-Tooth™, has a shelf life of approximately
two years. It has been recommended by Clinical Research Associates and
the Emergency Research Council Institute and is endorsed by the American
Dental Association.
Obviously, nature's ideal
implant is the original tooth. Additionally, using the original tooth
can save money. A prosthetic tooth can cost more that $2,500 and will
not compare with a real tooth. Even baby teeth can be important to replace
as they guide the way for the secondary teeth.
Because of the low cost
to benefit ratio (Save-A-Tooth™ kits are sold for under $20, including
shipping and handling), they are a prudent addition to first aid kits
wherever tooth-related injuries are possible, viz., childcare facilities,
fitness centers, athletic fields, etc. This well could be the next "staple"
item in the YMCA first aid kit and the home.
Please call us at 800-463-8546,
if you would like to discuss any risk management safety tip, or visit
our website at
http://www.redwoodsgroup.com to learn more about YMCA risk management
related issues.
The Redwoods Group has
no connection with or financial ties to Save-A-Tooth™, Dr. Krasner, or
Temple School of Dentistry.
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