Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS. Dr. Pradeep Adatrow is the only board certified Dentist, Periodontist, and Prosthodontist in the southern United States. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Adatrow specializes in dental implants, TMJ treatments, periodontal plastic surgery, surgical and non-surgical periodontics, bone regeneration, laser treatments, and soft tissue and gum graft procedures. He received a BS in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Alabama and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. Dr. Adatrow then completed a three-year postgraduate program in periodontics and implantology at Indiana University and went on to complete another three-year postdoctoral program in advanced prosthodontics from the University of Tennessee. He also serves as a full-time professor and the Director of Surgical Prosthodontics at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Adatrow received the Dean's Junior Faculty Award and the John Diggs Faculty Award, and he was inducted into the Deans Odontological Society. He is board certified by the American Board of Periodontology and is a Fellow of the prestigious International College of Dentistry – a feat that only 10,000 others worldwide can claim.
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If you're planning on having your teeth extracted or want to preserve your child's teeth, there's an easy method for doing this. If you haven't had the extraction yet, make sure you let your dentist know in advance that you'd like to keep your teeth. Extracted teeth should be properly disinfected and kept hydrated to keep them well-preserved. You can do this by placing the extracted teeth in a sealed container with water, saline, or diluted bleach.
Steps
Tell your dentist that you’d like to preserve your teeth in advance. Dentists and oral surgeons aren’t required to give you your teeth back after they’ve been removed, and many dentists don’t give teeth back as a general rule. To make sure that you get to keep your extracted teeth, tell your dentist that you’d like to keep them before the extraction takes place.
Make sure your extracted teeth have been properly cleaned. After your dentist or oral surgeon removes your tooth, they’re required to properly clean it. This entails cleaning the teeth of any blood, using a disinfectant on the teeth, and then rinsing them with clean water. Make sure your dentist has done all of this before taking your teeth with you.Advertisement
Put the extracted teeth in a sealed bag when leaving the dentist. Once your extracted teeth have been cleaned and disinfected, put them in a sealable bag. Oftentimes your dentist will do this for you, but if they don't, ask for a little bag or small tooth container to put your extracted teeth in.
Clean your extracted teeth thoroughly if you pulled them out yourself. If you extracted your teeth yourself at home, you'll need to follow the same protocol that a dentist would when it comes to cleaning them. First, use soap and water to remove any blood or other residue from the teeth. Take a cotton ball or pad and dampen it with rubbing alcohol, gently applying the rubbing alcohol to the teeth to disinfect them. Rinse the teeth with clean water afterwards.- Make sure you wash your hands before and after handling extracted teeth.
James R. Hupp, Oral Health ExpertSaving extracted teeth can be useful for education, forensics, or sentimental reasons. The process requires careful cleaning, disinfecting, and storage to prevent decay and contamination. For dental students honing their skills, professionals examining tooth structure, or individuals keeping teeth for personal reasons, key steps involve thorough cleaning, using disinfectants like diluted bleach or formalin, and secure storage in a labeled, sealed container. This mindful preservation maintains the tooth's integrity for future use or study, underscoring the link between dental care and the health sciences.
Place the liquid and the extracted teeth in a sealable container. Once you’ve chosen your method for keeping your extracted teeth hydrated, find a well-made container. This container should be durable and able to prevent leaking — a sealable container is best. Pour your liquid into the container and place your extracted teeth inside as well. Seal the container properly.[1]- A glass jar with an air-tight lid works well.
- Put the container in a sealed plastic bag to ensure it doesn't leak, if desired.
Put your extracted teeth in water or saline for short-term storage. To keep your extracted teeth properly hydrated, you can use distilled water or saline. If you choose to use water, it’s recommended that you change the water daily to prevent any bacteria from forming.[2]- This type of storage solution is best if you’re only storing your teeth for a few days. If you’d like to store them using this method for a longer period of time, you’ll need to keep changing the water or saline solution.
Use a 1:10 bleach-water solution to ensure decontamination. Household bleach is a great disinfectant and should help keep any bacteria from forming on your extracted teeth. Create a mixture of household bleach and water by diluting bleach 1:10 with regular tap water.[3]- You can keep the extracted teeth in the bleach for a couple of days to a week, but keeping them in the solution for too long may cause them to become brittle.
- You can dip the teeth in this solution to decontaminate them before drying them off, if desired.
Keep extracted teeth in an air-tight container for permanent storage. The most popular option when keeping extracted teeth is to store them in a container without liquid. After making sure the extracted teeth are clean and disinfected, place the teeth in a small container with an air-tight lid.- You can buy a container made specifically for teeth, or you can just use one you have at home.
Expert Q&A
- QuestionHow do I preserve a baby tooth?
Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MSDr. Pradeep Adatrow is the only board certified Dentist, Periodontist, and Prosthodontist in the southern United States. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Adatrow specializes in dental implants, TMJ treatments, periodontal plastic surgery, surgical and non-surgical periodontics, bone regeneration, laser treatments, and soft tissue and gum graft procedures. He received a BS in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Alabama and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. Dr. Adatrow then completed a three-year postgraduate program in periodontics and implantology at Indiana University and went on to complete another three-year postdoctoral program in advanced prosthodontics from the University of Tennessee. He also serves as a full-time professor and the Director of Surgical Prosthodontics at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Adatrow received the Dean's Junior Faculty Award and the John Diggs Faculty Award, and he was inducted into the Deans Odontological Society. He is board certified by the American Board of Periodontology and is a Fellow of the prestigious International College of Dentistry – a feat that only 10,000 others worldwide can claim.
Board Certified Dentist & Oral SurgeonWhen it comes to preserving deciduous teeth, commonly called baby teeth, there are several methods at your disposal. You can opt for a specialized box equipped with labeled wells to securely hold each child's baby teeth. Alternatively, consider using a baby tooth flap book for this purpose. Furthermore, you can preserve the baby or even an adult tooth, such as a wisdom tooth, by storing it in a stem cell facility.
Tips
- Make sure you wear gloves when handling the extracted teeth, and wash your hands thoroughly after you’re done.[4]Thanks
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about taking care of your teeth, check out our in-depth interview with Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS.
References
- ↑ https://dental.washington.edu/policies/clinic-policy-manual/safe-handling-extracted-teeth/
- ↑ https://dental.washington.edu/policies/clinic-policy-manual/safe-handling-extracted-teeth/
- ↑ https://dental.washington.edu/policies/clinic-policy-manual/safe-handling-extracted-teeth/
- ↑ http://dental.ufl.edu/files/2012/01/Collecting_Teeth.pdf
About This Article
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
If you want to preserve your teeth or your child’s teeth, all you need are a few household items. Before you preserve the teeth, make sure they’re clean and free of blood or other debris. Then, soak your teeth in a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water to disinfect them. After a couple of days, dry the teeth completely and place them in an airtight container. You can use a container you have at home or one made specifically for holding teeth. To learn how to ask your dentist to keep your extracted teeth, read on!
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