How Save-A-Tooth® Works

When a tooth is knocked-out, the periodontal ligament that attaches the tooth in the socket is torn in half. If the two halves of the ligament are kept alive, when the tooth is replanted, these halves will fuse back together.

However, these ligament cells on the tooth root are very delicate; so they must be protected during transport to a dentist. The Save-A-Tooth® system was designed to suspend the tooth in the solution to prevent damage to the cells. The basket and net in Save-A-Tooth® also help wash debris off of the tooth without scrubbing or touching the cells. This basket also lets a dentist remove the tooth from the system without having to try to grab it with fingers or forceps.

The ligament cells contain nutrients that they need to survive. When a tooth is knocked out, these nutrients are used by the cell and cannot be replaced by normal means. In order to keep these cells alive, the lost nutrients need to be replaced. The special fluid in Save-A-Tooth®, called Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS), provides the necessary nutrients to nurish the cells and keep the ligament alive for up to 24 hours. By keeping these cells alive, the success rate of replanted teeth goes from around 10% to 90%!