Symptoms · knocked-out tooth
What should I do if a tooth is knocked out?
If an adult tooth is knocked out, pick it up by the white crown, rinse it briefly in milk if it's dirty, and push it gently back into the socket. If you can't, keep it in milk. Then call Y3 Smiles Dental in Broadmeadows straight away on (03) 9022 4442. Every minute counts. Never put a baby tooth back in.
First aid for a knocked-out adult tooth
Stay calm and find the tooth
Check it's a whole tooth, including the root.
Hold it by the crown only
That's the smooth white part you normally see. Don't touch the root, and don't scrub or wipe it.
Rinse briefly if dirty
Use milk or saline for a few seconds. Avoid water if you can.
Push it gently back into the socket
Make sure it faces the right way, level with the teeth beside it.
Hold it in place
Bite gently on a clean cloth, tissue or folded gauze.
Call us and come in immediately
Ring (03) 9022 4442 on the way. If you can't put it back in, bring the tooth in milk.
Is this an emergency department problem too?
Go to hospital or call 000
- A hard hit to the head, or any loss of consciousness, vomiting or confusion
- A suspected broken jaw, or teeth that no longer meet properly
- A deep cut to the lip, tongue or face, or bleeding that won't stop
Call us today
- Any knocked-out adult tooth: come straight in
- A tooth that has been loosened or pushed out of position
- A knocked-out baby tooth, to check for other injuries
If we're closed and an adult tooth has been knocked out, go to a hospital emergency department and take the tooth in milk.
Why does acting fast matter so much?
The root of a tooth is covered in living cells that help it reattach to the bone. Those cells start dying once they dry out or sit in the wrong liquid. Putting the tooth back straight away, or keeping it moist in milk, gives it the best chance of settling back in.
What if it's a baby tooth?
Don't put a knocked-out baby tooth back in. The adult tooth is developing just underneath and could be damaged. Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze to stop bleeding, keep the tooth to show us, and call so we can check your child. Knocks to baby teeth can still affect the adult teeth, so a check is worthwhile even if your child seems fine.
What happens at the dentist?
At Y3 Smiles Dental we check the tooth and the socket, place or reposition the tooth if needed, and usually take an x-ray to look for fractures. The tooth is often held with a thin, temporary splint joined to the teeth next to it while it settles. Most replanted adult teeth need follow-up, and many need root canal treatment later because the nerve is damaged by the injury. We'll explain what to watch for and book reviews. Read how our emergency dentistry works.
What if the tooth can't be saved?
Sometimes a tooth has been out too long or is too badly damaged. There are good ways to replace a missing tooth once the area has healed, including a bridge, a denture or a dental implant. The dentist will talk you through which suit your situation.
Other questions people ask
How long do I have to save a knocked-out tooth?
The sooner the better. The best chance is when the tooth goes back in within minutes, and the chances fall the longer it is out of the mouth. Don't wait to see a dentist; call on the way.
Can I store the tooth in water?
Avoid water if you can, because it damages the cells on the root. Milk is best. The person's own saliva is the next option, for example in a small sealed container. Water is a last resort.
What if the tooth is only loose or pushed out of place?
Don't try to force it back. Bite gently on a clean cloth to hold it steady, avoid chewing on it and call us today.
My child knocked out a baby tooth. What should I do?
Don't put it back, because that can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Keep the tooth, control any bleeding with gentle pressure, and call us so we can check your child's mouth and other teeth.
How do I prevent it happening again?
A custom-fitted mouthguard for contact sports, including training, is one of the most effective ways to protect teeth from knocks.