What to Do If You Knock Out a Tooth

Even if you’re the most prepared person in the world, accidents still happen, and when they do happen, it’s important to know how to respond to them.

Teeth can easily get knocked out after severe slip-and-fall incidents, car accidents, and more. In these scenarios, it’s critical to act quickly because doing so will minimize damage and create the greatest chance for an optimal treatment outcome.

If you’ve knocked out a tooth, here are the three most vital steps you should take:

1. Save the Tooth

Locate the tooth as quickly as possible and handle it with care. Pick up the tooth by the crown (the exposed portion that you use for chewing), being very careful not to touch the roots or soft tissues. Touching the soft tissues on the tooth and roots can cause cellular damage, making the tooth difficult to save. Leaving these cells and soft tissues intact will help the tooth stay alive until it can be reattached to the socket.

2. Store the Tooth

If the tooth is dirty, you can rinse it, but be very gentle. Do not use water. Tap water or hot water can damage the roots. Instead, rinse the tooth with saliva, saline, or milk.

If possible, reposition the tooth in its socket (the empty hole where it should be inside your mouth). Be sure the tooth is oriented in the proper direction. Then, bite down gently on a soft cloth to hold the tooth in place.

In some cases, the socket will be swollen, making it difficult for the tooth to fit. If this is the case, do not force the tooth back into the socket. Instead, hold it in your mouth between your cheek and gum tissues on the way to the dentist, or keep it moist in a small jar with milk. It is essential that the tooth does not dry out.

A Note About Avulsed Primary (Baby) Teeth

If a baby tooth has been lost, do not attempt to return it to its socket, as this could potentially damage the permanent tooth that is still developing underneath.

3. Schedule an Emergency Appointment

When you have a knocked-out tooth, you need immediate medical attention, usually within 30 minutes of the injury. At Kardynal Dental, we provide emergency dental care with urgent and same-day appointments for individuals in southeast Michigan. If you have a knocked-out tooth, call us right away at (589) 619-8676 either during or after business hours for immediate care instructions and emergency dental attention.

Treatment for Saving a Knocked-Out Tooth

The process of saving a knocked-out tooth will vary depending on whether or not the tooth was placed back in its socket:

1. Initial Treatment: If the tooth is in the socket, the dentist evaluates its placement, ensures sterilization, and makes necessary adjustments. If the tooth is not in the socket, the dentist cleans the tooth, adjusts the socket, and puts it back in place.
2. X-rays: Your dentist will take digital X-rays to ensure the roots are intact and that the surrounding oral structures (such as the jawbones) weren’t also injured.
3. Attaching Support: A splint is then made, consisting of orthodontic wire and resin composite bonding, and attached to the neighboring teeth to support the knocked-out tooth while it heals.

Regardless of which procedure is needed, dental offices like Kardynal Dental take extra precautions to ensure a comfortable treatment experience, so treatment always takes place after the initial administration of local anesthetics. Patients also receive thorough after-care instructions, including gentle cleaning and dietary restrictions, as well as follow-up examinations to assess the tooth’s progress.

When Saving a Tooth Is No Longer an Option

A knocked-out tooth might not be salvageable if:

• It’s been out of the socket for too long
• There is extensive damage to the soft tissue cells or roots
• It’s a baby tooth
• It’s severely damaged or broken
• There is extensive decay
• The tooth socket is significantly damaged

In the event a natural tooth cannot be saved, your dentist will provide treatment to prevent infection, stop bleeding, and address immediate pain.

At Kardynal Dental, we typically provide patients with a temporary false tooth that can be worn while the socket heals. Once the patient has healed and recovered, we can discuss tooth replacement options, such as dental implants, dental bridges, partial dentures, or space maintainers for knocked-out baby teeth.

Call Kardynal Dental Now If You’ve Lost a Tooth

If your tooth has been knocked out or you’ve experienced another type of dental trauma, call Kardynal Dental now at (586) 619-8676 to schedule emergency care. Just a few minutes could mean the difference between saving or losing a natural tooth. Our team is standing by to ensure you get the care you need and deserve.