Emergency Help for a Knocked-Out Tooth

Immediate Steps After a Tooth Is Knocked Out

Pick up the tooth by the crown (the white part you normally see). Do not touch the root. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it briefly under running water for no more than ten seconds. Do not scrub it, dry it, or wrap it in tissue. The best option is to gently push the tooth back into the socket and hold it in place by biting on a clean cloth. If you cannot replant it yourself, place the tooth in a cup of cold milk. Milk maintains the cells on the root surface that are essential for reattachment. Saliva (keeping the tooth inside your cheek) is a second option if milk is not available. Do not store the tooth in water. Then call for an emergency dental appointment immediately, as the chances of saving the tooth drop significantly after thirty to sixty minutes.

When to Seek Dental or Hospital Care

A knocked-out permanent tooth needs a dentist, not a hospital, unless you also have head injuries, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, or heavy bleeding that you cannot control. If a child has knocked out a baby tooth, do not try to replant it, as this can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. The child should still be assessed to check for injuries to the surrounding teeth and gum. Adults who have knocked out a tooth alongside other facial injuries, such as a broken jaw or deep lacerations, may need emergency medical attention before dental treatment.

What the Dentist Will Do

If the tooth has been stored correctly and you reach the dentist quickly, the tooth will be repositioned in the socket and stabilised with a flexible splint attached to neighbouring teeth. This splint usually stays in place for one to two weeks. The dentist will take X-rays to check for damage to the bone and surrounding teeth. Root canal treatment is typically needed within two weeks of the injury because the nerve supply is severed when the tooth comes out. Follow-up appointments monitor healing, check for resorption (where the body begins to break down the replanted root), and determine whether the tooth has integrated successfully.

Frequently Asked Questions