Knocked Out Tooth: Act Fast to Save It

A knocked-out (avulsed) tooth is one of the most time-critical dental emergencies. The faster you act, the better the chance of saving your tooth. Re-implantation is most successful when done within 30 minutes of the injury.

Step 1: Find the tooth. Pick it up by the crown (the white chewing part), never by the root. The root contains sensitive cells that are critical for re-attachment.

Step 2: If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently with clean water or saline. Do not scrub it, do not use soap, and do not dry it or wrap it in tissue.

Step 3: Keep the tooth moist. The best option is to place it back in the socket immediately (if the patient is conscious and there is no risk of swallowing it). If this is not possible, store it in milk. As a last resort, store it in the patient's saliva (hold it between the cheek and gum).

Step 4: Call us immediately. Tell us you have a knocked-out tooth. We will see you within minutes.

Do not store the tooth in water - this damages the root cells. Time out of the mouth is the biggest factor in success.

If the tooth is a baby tooth (milk tooth), do not attempt to re-implant it - contact us for advice.

After successful re-implantation, the tooth will need a splint and follow-up appointments. Root canal treatment is usually required later. But the tooth can often be saved.