Emergencies
Knocked-Out Tooth? What to Do in the First Hour, Step by Step
A knocked-out adult tooth can often be saved if you act fast. What to do in the first minutes, how to store the tooth, and where to go in Sierra Vista.
Key takeaways
- Pick the tooth up by the crown, never the root.
- The best place for the tooth is back in its socket. The next best is a cup of milk.
- Never let the tooth dry out, and do not scrub or disinfect it.
- Get to a dentist as fast as possible, ideally within 30 minutes.
- Do not put a knocked-out baby tooth back in.
A tooth that has been completely knocked out of its socket is one of the few true emergencies in dentistry where minutes decide the outcome. The good news is that the first aid is simple, and the person on the scene, a parent, a coach or a teammate, can make the biggest difference.
The steps below follow guidance from the American Association of Endodontists and the International Association of Dental Traumatology.
Step 1: Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown
Locate the tooth right away. Do not leave it on the field or the floor. Pick it up by the crown, the white chewing part, and avoid touching the root. The root surface is covered in delicate cells that need to stay alive for the tooth to reattach.
Step 2: Rinse only if it is dirty, and only briefly
If the tooth has dirt on it, rinse it for a few seconds with milk or water. Do not scrub it, wipe it, use soap, or soak it in alcohol or mouthwash. You want to remove grit, not the root cells.
Step 3: Put it back in the socket if you can
This is the single best thing you can do. Make sure it is facing the right way, then gently push it back into the socket. Have the person bite down gently on a clean cloth or gauze to hold it in place.
If the person is unconscious, too young to cooperate, or the socket is badly injured, skip this step.
Step 4: If it will not go back in, keep it in milk
The tooth must not dry out. Put it in a small container of milk. An emergency tooth preservation kit, sometimes found in school or sports first aid kits, works even better. Use water only if nothing else is available.
Older advice suggested holding the tooth in the person’s mouth, inside the cheek. That is now a last resort, because saliva is full of bacteria and young children may swallow the tooth.
Step 5: Get to a dentist immediately
Call the dental office on the way. The aim is to be seen within about 30 minutes, though a tooth can sometimes be saved later than that if it has been kept moist. The dentist will position the tooth correctly and splint it to the neighboring teeth while it heals. Most replanted teeth will need a root canal in the following weeks.
In Sierra Vista, call Gentle Care Dentistry & Implants at (520) 458-9460 during office hours.
When to go to the ER first
Go to the emergency room, or call 911, if there is a head injury, loss of consciousness, a possible broken jaw, or bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure. In Sierra Vista, the emergency department is at Canyon Vista Medical Center, 5700 E Highway 90. Bring the tooth with you in milk.
Baby teeth are different
Do not put a knocked-out baby tooth back in. Doing so can damage the permanent tooth forming beneath it. Control any bleeding with gentle pressure and call the dentist for advice.
Prevent it in the first place
Most knocked-out teeth happen during sports, falls and bike accidents. A properly fitted mouthguard is inexpensive protection for anyone playing contact sports, skateboarding or mountain biking.
If the tooth cannot be saved
Sometimes a tooth cannot be replanted, or it does not survive long term. Modern options such as a dental implant can replace it with a tooth that looks and works like the original. For the full list of what to do in other dental emergencies, see our emergency dentist page.
Common questions
How long can a knocked-out tooth survive outside the mouth?
The cells on the root start dying within minutes when the tooth is dry. Replanting within 15 to 30 minutes gives the best chance. Keeping the tooth moist in milk buys time, but every minute still counts.
Should I put a knocked-out tooth in water?
Only if nothing better is available. Milk or an emergency tooth preservation kit is better because plain water can damage the root cells over time. Never wrap the tooth in a dry tissue.
Can you put a baby tooth back in?
No. Replanting a baby tooth can damage the adult tooth developing underneath it. Call your dentist for advice instead.
Sources
This article is general information, not medical or dental advice for your situation. Call (520) 458-9460 or see your own dentist about your symptoms.