If a permanent tooth is knocked out, stay calm, pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root, keep it moist, and get dental care right away. A knocked-out tooth has the best chance of being saved when it is put back in place quickly. Call Hillsborough Prime Dental at (908) 359-8555 for emergency dentistry. If the injury is severe or our office is closed, go to the nearest emergency room.
What to Do in the First Few Minutes
In the first few minutes after a tooth is knocked out, your goals are to protect the root, keep the tooth from drying out and control the bleeding. Follow these five steps in order.
- Find the tooth. Check the ground and the person’s mouth. If you cannot find it, still call a dentist right away.
- Pick it up by the crown. The crown is the white chewing surface. Do not touch the root, and do not pull off any tissue attached to it.
- Rinse only if it is dirty. Hold it under cool water for a few seconds. Do not scrub it, wipe the root, or clean it with alcohol or peroxide.
- Control the bleeding. Press clean gauze or a clean cloth against the socket. A cold compress on the outside of the mouth helps with pain and swelling.
- Call the dentist. Then put the tooth back in or store it, as explained below.
Should You Put the Tooth Back in the Socket
Yes, if it is a permanent tooth and you can do it gently. A tooth that goes back in its socket quickly has the best chance of being saved.
- Hold the tooth by the crown, with the front of the tooth facing forward.
- Push it gently into the socket, or set it over the socket and close the mouth slowly.
- Bite down softly on clean gauze to hold it in place until you reach the dentist, and be careful not to swallow it.
Do not force it. If the tooth will not slide in easily, if it hurts too much, or if the person is a young child who might swallow it, store the tooth instead, as described in the next section.
Baby teeth are different. Do not put a knocked-out baby tooth back in, because it can damage the permanent tooth developing underneath. Press gauze on the gum to stop the bleeding and call the dentist so your child can be checked. If you are not sure whether it is a baby tooth or a permanent tooth, store it in milk and bring it with you.
How to Keep the Tooth Alive If You Cannot Reinsert It
If the tooth cannot go back in, keep it moist until you reach the dentist. The cells on the root start to die once they dry out, so the storage liquid matters. Use one of these three options.
- Milk. Place the tooth in a small container and cover it with milk.
- A tooth preservation kit. Look for a product accepted by the American Dental Association. These kits include a travel case and a storage solution.
- Saliva. Have the person spit into a small cup and keep the tooth covered. An adult can also hold the tooth inside the cheek, but do not try this with a young child.
Avoid these common mistakes:
- Storing the tooth in plain tap water, which can damage the root cells
- Wrapping it in a tissue, napkin or cloth
- Letting it dry out
- Putting it on ice or in salt water, alcohol or mouthwash
If your family plays sports, keep a small container of shelf-stable milk or a preservation kit in your sports bag or first aid kit.
How Fast You Need to Be Seen
You need to be seen as quickly as possible. Dental organizations, including the American Association of Endodontists, say a knocked-out tooth has the best chance of being saved when a dentist sees you within 30 minutes. A tooth kept moist may still be saved after that, but the odds drop the longer it is out of the mouth, and a tooth that dries out has the lowest chance.
Call Hillsborough Prime Dental at (908) 359-8555 as soon as the bleeding is under control, and bring the tooth with you. Our posted office hours are:
- Monday and Tuesday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
- Wednesday, closed
- Thursday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
- Friday, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday, closed
If the office is closed or you cannot reach us, go to the nearest emergency room rather than waiting for the next open day.
When to Go to the Emergency Room Instead
Go to the emergency room, or call 911, when the injury goes beyond the tooth. An injury strong enough to knock out a tooth can also hurt the jaw, face or head. Go right away if you notice any of these signs:
- The upper and lower teeth do not close together, which can mean a broken jaw
- Bleeding that does not slow down with steady pressure
- A blow to the head, especially with dizziness, confusion, vomiting or loss of consciousness
- Deep cuts to the lips, tongue, cheeks or face
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- A knocked-out tooth when our office is closed and you cannot reach us
Bring the tooth with you in milk or saliva. After the emergency room visit, call us so we can check the tooth and the surrounding teeth.
What We Do at the Office for a Knocked-Out Tooth
At the office, we start by relieving your pain and finding out how much of the mouth was injured. We examine the tooth, the socket and the teeth around it, take X-rays, and then build a treatment plan for your situation. We explain each step before we begin, so you know what to expect.
Treatment for a knocked-out permanent tooth commonly includes placing it back in the socket and holding it steady while the area heals. Because the nerve inside the tooth is cut when the tooth comes out, a replanted tooth often needs a root canal afterward. Hillsborough Prime Dental offers root canal treatment when it is needed.
Plan on follow-up visits so we can check how the tooth and gums are healing.
Aftercare and Warning Signs
After treatment, protect the tooth while the area heals.
- Eat soft foods and chew on the other side of your mouth
- Avoid biting into hard or crunchy foods with the injured tooth
- Brush gently around the area to keep it clean
- Follow the care and medication instructions you receive
- Keep every follow-up appointment
Call us right away if you notice any of these warning signs:
- A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
- Pus or drainage around the tooth
- Pain that gets worse after the first 24 hours
- Bleeding that does not stop
If the Tooth Cannot Be Saved
If a knocked-out tooth cannot be saved, the gap can still be filled. We will talk through the replacement options that fit your mouth and your budget.
- Implant restorations. An implant takes the place of the root, and a restoration on top replaces the visible tooth.
- Dental bridges. A bridge holds a replacement tooth in place using the teeth on either side of the gap.
- Dentures. A partial denture is a removable option that fills the space.
If part of the injured tooth is still in the socket and cannot be repaired, an extraction may come first.
Preventing a Knocked-Out Tooth
Knocked-out teeth commonly come from falls, sports, car accidents or biting something hard, so a few habits lower the risk.
- Wear a mouth guard for contact sports and any activity where a fall or hit to the face is likely
- Always wear a seatbelt, and keep children in the right car seat or booster
- Avoid chewing ice, unpopped popcorn kernels, hard candy and bones
If your kids play sports, regular checkups through our family dentistry care are a good time to talk about protecting their teeth.
Call Hillsborough Prime Dental for Emergency Care
If a tooth has been knocked out, call Hillsborough Prime Dental at (908) 359-8555. Our office at 312 US-206 in Hillsborough Township is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM and Friday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Sally Awad, DDS, and our team see patients from Hillsborough, Montgomery, Bridgewater, Franklin Township, Manville, Branchburg Township, Millstone, Raritan and Somerville.
Learn more about our emergency dentistry services, or use our appointment form for follow-up care that is not urgent.
Act Fast and Get the Right Care Close to Home
Saving a knocked-out tooth comes down to three things: hold it by the crown, keep it moist and get to a dentist quickly. Call Hillsborough Prime Dental at (908) 359-8555, or visit our emergency dentistry page to learn more.
Knocked-Out Tooth FAQ
Can a knocked-out tooth be saved?
Often, yes, if it is a permanent tooth and you act quickly. The best chance comes when the tooth is put back in or kept moist and a dentist sees you within about 30 minutes.
Should I put a knocked-out tooth back in?
Put a permanent tooth back in if it slides in gently, then bite on gauze to hold it. Never force it, and never put a baby tooth back in.
What should I store a knocked-out tooth in?
Use milk, the person’s own saliva, or a tooth preservation kit accepted by the American Dental Association. Do not store it in tap water or wrap it in a tissue.
What if my child knocks out a baby tooth?
Do not put it back in, because that can harm the permanent tooth underneath. Press gauze on the gum to control the bleeding and call the dentist so your child can be checked.
How long do I have to get to a dentist?
Get there as quickly as possible. The best results come when a dentist sees you within about 30 minutes, and the longer the tooth stays out and dry, the lower the chance of saving it.
What if I cannot find the tooth?
Call the dentist anyway. A tooth that seems to be missing may have been pushed up into the gum or swallowed, so the area needs to be checked. If there is coughing or trouble breathing, go to the emergency room.
Does dental insurance cover emergency tooth replacement?
Coverage depends on your plan. We accept most major PPO and insurance plans, including Cigna, Guardian, Aetna, MetLife, Delta Dental and United Healthcare, and we offer financing through CareCredit. Check with your insurer about what your plan covers.
