Introduction
The Save-A-Tooth Emergency Tooth Preserving
System is a patented device that protects a knocked out tooth from the two
primary causes of replanted tooth loss: tooth cell crushing and tooth cell
dehydration. The System uses a scientifically engineered removable basket
to hold the tooth, and a special pH balanced preserving fluid that preserves
and reconstitutes tooth cells.
Product
Overview and Description
With the Save-A-Tooth Emergency Tooth Preserving System, knocked-out teeth
can almost always be successfully replanted and retained. Time is the critical
factor. A knocked-out tooth placed quickly into the Save-A-Tooth system
has the best chance of being saved.
Save-A-Tooth contains
Hank's Balanced Salt Solution proven to be the best liquid for preserving
teeth. The container is a six-part scientifically designed system to protect
the teeth at all times. This includes a removable basket allowing the healthcare
provider to grab the tooth by the crown, not the root. There is also a foam
cap on inside of the lid to protect tooth/teeth if container is upset.
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Product
Use and Procedure
Immediately place knocked-out tooth/teeth in sealed Save-A-Tooth container.
Get person to nearest dentist or emergency room as soon as possible. Due
to the removable basket, which allows the liquid to drain, the healthcare
provider can easily see the tooth and grab it by the crown protecting
the delicate root.
Frequently
Asked Questions
| Q: |
How
quickly does an avulsed tooth begin to die and why? |
| A: |
When a tooth is
knocked out, the ligament that holds the tooth in its socket (called
the periodontal ligament or PDL) is torn in half. The PDL cells that
remain on the tooth root begin to die within 5 minutes of avulsion.
After 30 minutes, success following re-implantation diminishes rapidly.
These PDL cells die quickly because they are cut off from their blood
supply and are removed from their normal physiological state.
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| Q: |
If
a tooth can't be re-implanted immediately (within 15-30 minutes),
what is the key to long-term re-implant success? |
| A: |
The key to success
in re-implanting avulsed teeth is maintaining the viability of the
PDL cells. To achieve this the tooth must be stored in an environment
that keeps the tooth from drying and that is physiologically compatible
with the cells, i.e. Proper pH, osmolality, nutrients, etc. The PDL
cells must also be protected from crushing. The Save-A-Tooth System
provides these conditions for proper storage and protection of the
avulsed tooth.
Studies show that the Save-A-Tooth System helps keep a tooth alive
for up to 24 hours. With the Save-A-Tooth System up to 90% of knocked-out
teeth that were placed in the system within 1-2 hours of being knocked
out were successfully re-implanted.
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| Q: |
How
many teeth are knocked out annually in the U.S.? |
| A: |
It is estimated
that 5 million teeth are knocked out annually in the U.S. Additionally
many more teeth are chipped and broken.
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| Q: |
What
are the leading causes for teeth being knocked out? |
| A: |
Here are some statistics
from a study (Harrington, et.al., Dentofacial Trauma in Children,
J. of Dentistry for Children, Sept. /Oct., 1988): Falls were the leading
cause of dental injury. Intentional injury (fights) was one of the
five leading causes of dental injury. Other causes of dental injuries
were being struck by an object, bicycle incidents, and motor vehicle
accidents. Sixty-two percent of the injuries occurred in the home.
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| Q: |
What
is the lifetime cost of dental work if an avulsed tooth is not successfully
re-implanted? |
| A: |
The lifetime cost
of replacing a knocked-out tooth can be as high as $15,000. The reason
for this is the cost of bridges that must be maintained and replaced
every year up to the age of 18 years and every 10 to 15 years thereafter.
Additional cost may involve the periodontal work around the bridges..
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| Q: |
What
types of storage mediums are currently being used to store avulsed
teeth? |
| A: |
No scientific system
existed prior to the development of the Save-A-Tooth System. Teeth
are currently being stored and transported in:
Tissue paper, or simply dry
Tap water
Saliva
Saline
Milk
Save-A-Tooth System
Save-A-Tooth System is the most favorable medium and provides an ideal
transport vehicle as well. Its use can significantly improve the chances
of re-implantation success.
Save-A-Tooth System helps keep a tooth alive and protected for up
to 24 hours until a dentist can re-implant the tooth. The other storage
media listed above are not ideal and can be damaging to the tooth.
|
| Q: |
How
does each of these storage media compare and what time limitations
do they have? |
| A: |
Dry storage, tap
water, saliva, saline, and milk are not as effective as the Save-A-Tooth
System and they have more restrictive time limitations for storage.
Dry Storage and Tap Water - These
storage methods are the most damaging to the PDL cells of an avulsed
tooth. Dry storage causes immediate cell death and soaking in tap
water is equally as destructive because water is ionically incompatible
with the PDL cells. Work by Andreason (Atlas of Replantation and Transplantation
of Teeth, 1991) has shown that after 5 minutes of dry storage PDL
healing is less than 30%. A number of authors have recommended that
water not be used as a storage media for avulsed teeth.
Saline/Saliva - These media have
also been found to be very damaging to the PDL cells. Saliva's osmolality
causes cell swelling and membrane damage after 1-2 hours of storage.
The damaged cells are more easily penetrated by bacteria in the saliva
and at risk of becoming infected. Saline is able to preserve PDL cells
for a short period of time (2-3 hours), however, for long term storage,
it is not able to maintain cells. Andreason (same reference as above)
has shown that after 20 minutes of storage in saliva (in the mouth)
or saline, PDL healing is less than 20%.
Milk - Milk is a suitable media
for storing an avulsed tooth for 3-6 hours but certain important problems
exist: it must be fresh and kept cold, and even though it has the
ability to maintain cell membrane integrity, it does not have the
ability to replenish depleted cell metabolites like the Save-A-Tooth
System does. It has been shown that the PDL cells mitotic ability
(cell division) diminishes dramatically after storage in milk for
more than an hour (Krasner, et.al., JADA, 1992). In addition, fresh,
cold milk is not always available at the scene of the accident. Once
in milk it is difficult to save the tooth and when it comes time to
remove it, the PDL cells may be crushed and further damaged during
retrieval.
Save-A-Tooth System - As stated
earlier, this is the most favorable storage system. It is pH balanced
cell culture fluid that is biocompatible with the PDL cells and helps
keep the cells viable for up to 24 hours. The media contains ingredients,
which help nourish and rejuvenate the degenerated PDL cells. One researcher
(Matsson et.al., Pediatric Dentistry, 1982) found that even teeth
that were dry-stored for 60 minutes or more before being placed in
the Save-A-Tooth System solution benefited significantly from the
soaking before being re-implanted. Based on his findings he recommended
that knocked-out teeth, which have been kept dry for 15 minutes or
longer, should be conditioned in the Save-A-Tooth System solution
for about 30 minutes prior to re-implantation. Importantly, clinical
research shows that teeth placed in Save-A-Tooth System within one
hour of avulsion can be successfully re-implanted in 90% of cases
(Krasner, et.al., JADA, 1992).
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Articles / Sales Brochures
/ Manuals
Attached
is the Redwoods Group Insurance Program for YMCA's regarding knocked out
teeth. To review this article, click here.
Legislation
Click here to review legislation that mandates childcare
facilities in OH to have first aid items for knocked out teeth..
Customer
Testimonials
What are people saying about Save-A-Tooth?
"I have been involved
in several cases in which SAVE-A-TOOTH™ has been used to save the
avulsed teeth of several patients. One, a ten-year old girl, had two teeth
knocked out while riding her bicycle. The knocked out teeth were stored
in a SAVE-A-TOOTH™ system. Without using this product, the chance
of success following the replantation would have been very small. By using
it, there is a good chance of retaining these teeth. This is a great product,
and one that should be in every dentist's office, every school and every
ambulance."
Henry Rankow, D.D.S.
Diplomate, American Board of Endodontics, Harrisburg, PA
"I plan to introduce
SAVE-A-TOOTH™ to the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society.
Seldom do truly worthwhile products appear for our scrutiny that appear
to have such a high degree of efficacy."
Gene Monahan, A.T.C.
Head Trainer, New York Yankees
"I recently used
your product to save a tooth on a member of the Boston Bruins hockey team.
I don't know why all athletic directors of high schools and colleges are
not advised of this system."
Dr. Robert J. Thomas, D.D.S.
Wellesley, MA
"SAVE-A-TOOTH™
overcomes all of the obstacles encountered with pre-replantation of avulsed
tooth storage. It preserves and protects a knocked out tooth for four
days successfully. It is simple to use and store for emergency situations.
I have recommended it to hospital emergency rooms in my area. I would
also recommend school nurses, athletic people, anesthesiologists and parents
to have this system on hand to protect our children and athletes from
unnecessary tooth loss."
Dr. Erwin Wolf, D.M.D.
Wyomissing, PA
"My youngest daughter
fell head-over-heels off her bicycle and came up without her two front
teeth. I didn't think her teeth would be salvageable. But a staff member
in the emergency room used SAVE-A-TOOTH™ to save her teeth. After
a successful replantation, our Christina is smiling again. And so are
we!"
Mrs. Michael Petry
Lebanon, PA
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Product Ordering Information
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