EMS Protocol of the Week - Avulsed Tooth (Adult and Pediatric)

Tooth Fairy? NOT IF EMS HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT.

Kidding. The prehospital protocol for the avulsed tooth applies solely to permanent teeth. If encountered, EMTs and paramedics will gently clean the tooth with saline and reimplant it within the socket (assuming the patient isn’t at risk for aspirating the tooth – see the Key Points section). If the patient is not eligible for reimplantation, EMS will prevent the tooth from drying out by placing it in an storage medium – remember that preference is “commercial tooth preservation media” (generic term for Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution) > milk > saliva > saline. 

That’s all there is to it! All neatly packaged for you to manage in the ED! Or, more likely, to have the dentist manage! High five!

www.nycremsco.org or the protocol binder for more!

 Dave