Most of the time, teeth that are extracted are thrown away as medical waste, but sometimes patients decide to keep them for emotional or other reasons.
Here are some steps on how to preserve extracted teeth:
Step 1 – Clean the Tooth
Clean the tooth properly after removal to get rid of any blood or tissue remains. You can use a toothbrush with a soft bristle and some mild soap or detergent. After this, wash this tooth with water and wipe it dry with a soft cloth.
Step 2 – Disinfect the Tooth
Next, disinfect the tooth to stop bacterial growth and decay. For this, you can boil the tooth for five to ten minutes. Or, as an alternative, you can soak the tooth for some hours in alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
Step 3 – Keep the Tooth in a Container
Once you have cleaned and disinfected the tooth, keep it in a nice and safe container. This jar should provide enough safety from harmful substances and physical harm. A good choice is a little glass jar or plastic container that can be closed tightly. If you want to add extra safety, you can think about wrapping the tooth in bubble wrap or a padded package.
Step 4 – You Can Add Preservatives
After this, you can add some more protection to this special tooth. To do this, you can add preservatives to the jar. A way to do this is that you can drown the tooth in a formalin solution, which is made up of formaldehyde and water. You can buy this remedy online or at many pharmacies. This will stop the teeth from drying out.
Step 5 – Tag the Container
It is important that you label the container with the extraction date, the tooth number, and the rest of the relevant information. This will help you recall the tooth’s memory clearly.
Step 6. Put the Jar in a Secure Place
In the end, you should keep the jar in a safe place where it cannot be taken or destroyed. The best environment would be one that is cold and dry. You can also consider storing the container in a secure, fireproof area.
Just knowing the steps of how you can preserve an extracted tooth, is not enough. It is important to know that there can be a few dangers if you do not follow the steps properly.
While preserving extracted teeth can be an interesting and unusual way to remember dental operations, it is essential to understand that all teeth and tissues need to be handled safely as they can be potentially infectious. This is why proper disinfection and cleaning are extremely important. To stop the spread of disease, it is crucial that you stick to the right infection control rules and dispose of any contaminated objects properly.
It is the best option to speak with your dentist or healthcare professional if you have any worries or confusion regarding maintaining extracted teeth.