What Should You Do if Your Tooth Is Knocked Out?
Did you know that over five million teeth are knocked out each year in adults and children? The good news is that if your tooth is knocked out, it doesn't mean it's lost forever.
Although it's a traumatic experience to have a tooth knocked out, acting quickly and knowing the emergency steps to take can significantly improve your chances of saving the tooth.
What Is an Avulsed Tooth?
An avulsed tooth is defined as a tooth that has been completely knocked out of its socket. This can happen due to a blow to the mouth or an accident involving the face, such as during contact sports or other traumatic incidents.
Avulsed permanent teeth are considered dental emergencies and require immediate attention from an emergency dentist to maximize the chances of successful re-implantation.
How to Know if Your Tooth Is Avulsed
Examine both the injury site and the tooth itself to distinguish between an avulsed tooth and one broken at the gumline. An avulsed tooth will leave a deep blood-filled hole at the injury site, while a broken tooth will leave a hard yellow substance (part of the tooth's root) in the hole.
Check if the entire root is intact—a complete root has a rounded end without sharp edges and is usually longer than the tooth itself. Conversely, a sharp, blunt, or sheared-off edge indicates a broken tooth.
Immediate Action Steps to Take for an Avulsed Tooth
You can increase your chances of saving a knocked-out adult tooth by following these steps.
Find the tooth as soon as possible.
Handle the tooth carefully, holding it by the crown (the visible chewing surface), and avoid touching the root as this could damage it.
Gently rinse the tooth for a few seconds in a bowl of lukewarm milk, saline solution, or your saliva to remove any debris, but avoid scrubbing or drying it.
Note: Do not use tap water—unless you don't have another option—because it can damage the root surface cells and hinder re-implantation.Keep the tooth moist at all times to preserve the delicate ligament fibers on the root surface which are required for reattachment.
If possible, gently push the clean tooth back into the socket, ensuring it's facing the right way.
Hold it in place by gently biting down on a clean handkerchief or napkin.
Seek dental care promptly—preferably within 2 hours after the injury.
What to Do if You Can't Get the Avulsed Tooth Back Into the Socket
If you can't reinsert your tooth into the socket easily, the next best option is to place it between your cheek and molars so it remains in its natural environment.
If that's not possible, store your tooth in milk. Why do we recommend milk? Milk is great because it is relatively bacteria-free and keeps the tooth hydrated. Also, it maintains the cellular components necessary for the tooth to re-attach in a healthy manner.
What if milk isn't available? Then you can use your saliva or a saline solution. Another option is to store your tooth in an emergency tooth preservation kit if one is available. The main things are to keep the tooth moist and not to use tap water for the reasons we mentioned previously.
Contact the Dentist Immediately
After an avulsed tooth injury, contact your dentist immediately for further instructions and treatment. If your regular dentist is unavailable, seek emergency dental care from the nearest dentist or urgent care facility.
Long-Term Considerations of Reimplanted Teeth
A reimplanted tooth may require a root canal due to nerve damage caused by the avulsion. Additionally, there's a risk of fusion with the jawbone, which can affect future orthodontic treatment.
Deciding whether to reimplant the avulsed tooth or to go directly for a dental implant is highly case-dependent. Most avulsions without bone fractures happen in kids or adolescents. In adults, the avulsion tends to be more traumatic and reimplantation is rarer. A clinical evaluation and regular monitoring with X-rays will help the dentist determine the best course of action and address any potential complications if and when they arise.
Consequences of Untreated or Failed Tooth Avulsion
It's important to consider the long-term consequences of having a missing tooth if the avulsed tooth couldn't be reimplanted, the reimplantation failed, or the missing tooth wasn’t found. Missing teeth can cause misalignment of your remaining teeth and weaken your jawbone, which leads to bone loss, changes to your facial structure, and issues with your bite.
Dental implants are often recommended to replace missing teeth permanently to provide stability, prevent bone loss, and restore function and aesthetics.
FAQs
The following are questions we get at our Bakersfield, CA dental office when someone has knocked out a tooth.
How Quickly Do I Have to Reinsert a Knocked-Out Tooth?
Ideally, a knocked-out tooth should be reinserted into the socket within 30 minutes to an hour for the best chance of success. However, even avulsed teeth reinserted within 60 minutes to 2 hours may still have a chance of survival.
What Should I Do if I Can’t Find the Knocked-Out Tooth?
If you can't find the tooth, it's possible that you may have swallowed or aspirated it. Seek immediate medical attention, and consider getting a chest X-ray to ensure the tooth hasn't entered your lungs.
What if I Only Find Part of the Tooth?
You should never try to reinsert part of a tooth into its socket. Instead, visit a dentist as soon as possible to have X-rays taken to determine if there is any damage to the root.
What Should I Do if a Tooth Breaks Instead of Being Completely Knocked Out?
If a tooth breaks but remains in the gumline, it's essential to see your dentist for evaluation and treatment. Broken teeth may require dental restoration procedures such as fillings, crowns, or root canals depending on the extent of the damage.
Can a Baby Tooth Be Re-Implanted if It’s Knocked Out?
No, baby teeth (primary teeth) should not be put back into their sockets. Baby teeth that have been knocked out are not replaced because they often become infected and may interfere with the growth of adult teeth. Instead, see a dentist to assess any damage and get proper treatment.
How Can I Prevent Tooth Avulsion?
Wearing a mouth guard during activities that pose a risk of dental injuries, such as contact sports, can help prevent tooth avulsion. Custom-fitted mouth guards, obtained from your dentist, offer the best protection when you play sports.
Take Quick Action to Save a Knocked-Out Tooth
An avulsed permanent tooth requires immediate attention to optimize successful re-implantation. You can significantly improve the outcome by following emergency action steps such as keeping the tooth moist, reinserting or correctly storing it, and seeking dental care promptly.
Remember, quick intervention greatly improves the chances of successful preservation. However, if the tooth can't be saved, dental implants are an excellent option for permanently restoring the look and function of a knocked-out tooth.