Background
Losing a tooth can be physically and emotionally trying, as the resulting empty site is not aesthetically pleasing and is difficult to fill and difficult to replace. Long-term sequelae include shifting of remaining teeth with resulting misalignment and periodontal disease.
As early as 400 BCE, Hippocrates suggested that displaced teeth should be replaced and fastened to adjacent teeth with wire. Modern emergency departments focus on reimplanting teeth as soon as possible, minimizing periodontal damage, and preventing infection of the pulp tissue.