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-ToothTM, 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-ToothTM 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. They can be obtained online at www.save-a-tooth.com or by calling 888.788.6684. This well could be the next "staple" item in the YMCA first aid kit and the home. Please call us at 800-463-8546 to discuss this or any other risk management safety tip, or visit our web site at 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-ToothTM, Dr. Krasner, or Temple School of Dentistry.
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| Risk Management services are provided by The Redwoods Group to assist the insured in fulfilling its responsibilities for the control of potential loss-producing situations involving their YMCA operations. The information contained is not intended as legal advice; it simply represents trends in the YMCA industry, related industries and/or law. Laws and suggested standards are under constant review by courts, states and trade groups. They can be vastly different in each jurisdiction. For legal advice relating to any subject addressed, YMCAs are advised to seek the services of a local personal attorney. The information is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind and The Redwoods Group expressly disclaims all warranties and conditions with regard to any information contained, including all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The Redwoods Group assumes no liability of any kind for information and data contained or for any course of action you may take in reliance thereon. |
| released 11/17/03 |