PN NCLEX Practice Test Related

Review PN NCLEX Practice Test related questions and content

The school nurse is called to the playground for an episode of mouth trauma. The nurse finds that the front tooth of a 9 year-old child has been avulsed ('knocked out'). After recovering the tooth, the initial response should be to

  • A. Rinse the tooth in water before placing it in the socket
  • B. Place the tooth in a clean plastic bag for transport to the dentist
  • C. Hold the tooth by the roots until reaching the emergency room
  • D. Ask the child to replace the tooth even if the bleeding continues
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Rinse the tooth in water before placing it in the socket. Following avulsion of a permanent tooth, it is important to rinse the dirty tooth in water, saline solution or milk before re-implantation. If possible, replace the tooth in its socket within 30 minutes, avoiding contact with the root.