Tooth in the wound after a bite
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Tooth in the wound after a bite
When a snake or lizard bites, a tooth can break off and remain in the bite site. If you see a tooth in the wound or sticking out of the wound, remove it with tweezers. Be careful not to push it farther into the wound. Bleeding may increase when the tooth is removed. Apply direct pressure to stop oozing or bleeding. See how to stop bleeding 
. After bleeding has stopped, see how to clean a wound.
If a tooth is left in a wound, the chance for infection increases and the puncture wound may not heal. Suspect a tooth is still in the wound if pain gets a lot worse when you press on the bite site. If you are not able to remove the tooth, a visit to a health professional is usually needed.
Credits
| Author | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Sean P. Bush, MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine and Envenomation Specialist |
| Last Updated | June 19, 2008 |
| Last updated: | June 19, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Reviewed By: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, Sean P. Bush, MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine and Envenomation Specialist |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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