Replanting avulsed primary teeth

Tooth replantation is a viable procedure if performed under the following acceptable guidelines: Replant the tooth if time lapse is less than 30 minutes (a time lapse of more than one to two hours results in a poor prognosis); Transport the tooth or teeth in milk, saliva or blood; and Keep teeth and replant area clean to minimize infection. Quick action by the mother in bringing the child to the hospital emergency room was a vital first step. The fact that the child held the teeth in her mouth en route to the hospital--bathed in saliva and blood, still attached by the bit of gingival tissue in the warm mouth's environment--helped to contribute to a positive situation as well as did the good home care.