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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 so. 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 saline solution or diluted bleach. Read on for everything you need to know, including insights from board-certified dentist and oral surgeon Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS.
Steps
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Tell your dentist that you’d like to preserve your teeth in advance. Dentists and oral surgeons aren’t required to give your teeth back after they’ve been removed, and many dentists don’t give extracted teeth back since they may be contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious material. [1] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source To make sure you get to keep your teeth, tell your dentist that you’d like to keep them before the extraction takes place. [2] X Research source
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Make sure your extracted teeth have been properly cleaned. After your dentist or oral surgeon removes your tooth, they’re required to clean it properly. This involves cleaning the tooth so there is no visible blood or debris. [3] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source Then, disinfecting the tooth in a 50% bleach, 50% water solution for 72 hours before rinsing it completely. [4] X Research source Make sure your dentist has done all of this before taking your teeth with you.Advertisement
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Put the extracted teeth in a safe container when leaving the dentist. Once your extracted teeth have been cleaned and disinfected, put them in a glass jar or plastic container. [5] X Research source Oftentimes, your dentist will do this for you, but if they don't, ask for a safe container to put your extracted teeth in.
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Clean your extracted teeth thoroughly if you pulled them out yourself. If you extract your tooth at home, you'll need to follow the same protocol that a dentist would when cleaning it. First, use mild soap and water to remove any blood or residue from the tooth. Then, boil the tooth for 5-10 minutes to stop bacterial growth and decay. [6] X Research source Alternatively, soak the tooth in a 50% bleach, 50% water solution for 72 hours to disinfect it. [7] X Research source Rinse the tooth with clean water to remove the bleach solution.
- Make sure you wash your hands before and after handling extracted teeth. [8] X Research source
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.
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Place the extracted teeth in a sealable container. Once you’ve cleaned your tooth, find a well-made container to store it in. This container should be durable and prevent leaking—a sealable, shatter-proof container is best. [9] X Research source
- “A glass jar or a securely sealed plastic container works well to shield the tooth from harmful substances and physical damage,” says Dr. Adatrow.
- Dr. Adatrow also advises to “clearly label the container with essential information, including the extraction date, tooth number, and any pertinent details.” This will help you identify the tooth easily in the future.
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Put your extracted teeth in saline solution for proper storage. To keep your extracted tooth hydrated, submerge it in a sealed, shatter-proof container of saline solution (1 g of salt for 100 mL of water). [10] X Research source Do not store your teeth in tap water.
- 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 for a longer period, submerge them in 10% formalin instead.
- Storing extracted teeth with amalgam in 10% formalin solution can disinfect the internal and external structures of teeth for up to 2 weeks. [11] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
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Alternatively, 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. Dilute common household bleach in a 1:10 ratio with regular tap water, then submerge your teeth in the solution. [12] X Research source
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do I preserve a baby tooth?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.When 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. [13] X Research sourceThanks
- Once you’ve properly stored your teeth, Dr. Adatrow recommends storing the container “in a secure location [that] is not easily accessible or susceptible to damage.” An ideal storage environment is “cool and dry.”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://www.cdc.gov/dental-infection-control/hcp/dental-ipc-faqs/extracted-teeth.html
- ↑ https://www.peyserdentistry.com/what-happens-to-extracted-teeth.html
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/dental-infection-control/hcp/dental-ipc-faqs/extracted-teeth.html
- ↑ https://www.atsu.edu/atsu/mosdoh_program_guide/extractedteeth.html
- ↑ https://westernpiedmontdental.com/how-to-preserve-extracted-teeth
- ↑ https://westernpiedmontdental.com/how-to-preserve-extracted-teeth
- ↑ https://www.atsu.edu/atsu/mosdoh_program_guide/extractedteeth.html
- ↑ https://dental.ufl.edu/files/2012/01/Collecting_Teeth.pdf
- ↑ https://www.atsu.edu/atsu/mosdoh_program_guide/extractedteeth.html
About This Article
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!
