A child is brought to the school nurse after having a permanent tooth knocked out during gym class. Which action by the nurse is appropriate?

Question

A child is brought to the school nurse after having a permanent tooth knocked out during gym class.  Which action by the nurse is appropriate?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ecbb05_caea_f94a_b433_efa44ac12ed1_MD0009_00 Dental avulsion (ie, tooth separated from the mouth) of a permanent tooth is a dental emergency. The priority nursing action is to rinse and reinsert the tooth into the gingival socket and hold it in place (eg, with a finger) until stabilized by a dentist (Option A). Reimplantation within 15 minutes of injury re-establishes blood supply, increasing the probability of tooth survival. If the tooth cannot be reinserted it should be kept moist by submerging it in commercially prepared solution (eg, Hanks Balanced Salt Solution), cold milk, sterile saline, or as a last resort-due to bacteria-saliva (eg, holding it under the tongue). (Option B) Scrubbing the root would damage it. The tooth should be gently rinsed with sterile saline or clean, running water. (Option C) Placing the tooth in water (a hypotonic solution) would lyse the cells, killing the tooth. (Option D) Wrapping the tooth in sterile gauze would dry it out. In addition, the nurse should arrange for immediate transfer to a dentist rather than advise the parent to schedule an appointment that might not be available for days. Educational objective: Dental avulsion is a dental emergency. The nurse should gently rinse off debris and reinsert the tooth into the gingival socket. If reimplantation is not possible, the tooth should be placed in a commercially prepared solution, cold milk, or sterile saline. The client should see a dentist immediately.

A Child Is Brought to the School Nurse After Having