Dental Emergency: What to Do When a Tooth Gets Knocked Out

Did you know that more than five million teeth are knocked out every year in children and adults? If this happens to one of your loved ones, don’t worry! Quick action can improve your odds of saving the tooth.

Causes of Knocked Out Teeth

Teeth get knocked out for various reasons that all involve an impact to the face. Most often, a tooth becomes knocked out during a contact sport when the participant failed to wear a mouthguard. The most common ways that teeth get knocked out include:

  • Sports injuries
  • Car accidents
  • A fight
  • Tripping or falling

Sports-related oral trauma ranges from a chipped tooth to having a tooth completely knocked out. By taking quick action, caretakers can make a big difference on salvaging the damage.

Preserving a Knocked-Out Tooth

Many are unaware that a tooth can be saved even if it is knocked out. Learn what to do immediately after a tooth is knocked out so you can restore your prior smile’s beauty. The following steps are recommended by the American Association of Endodontists to save a tooth that has been knocked out:

  1. Delicately pick up the lost tooth by the crown (also known as the chewing surface.)
  2. Use water to rinse the tooth. Only water, nothing else.
  3. Gently replace the tooth in the original socket at once. Keep it in place with your fingers or by biting down softly.
  4. Keep the tooth moist in your mouth. If it won’t stay in the socket, place in next to your cheek in your mouth, or in a small container of milk.
  5. Visit your dentist, endodontist, or emergency department within 30 minutes of the accident. (Some teeth can still be saved if it has been outside the mouth for more than hour but contact your dental provider for specific instructions.)

In the dentist’s office or emergency department, the tooth will either be re-implanted or splinted to the nearby teeth for a period of two-eight weeks. A root canal procedure will be needed for long-term survival of the tooth.

Other Reasons a Tooth May Fall Out

If you lose a tooth due to periodontal disease, the steps listed above will not save the tooth. Prevent this type of tooth loss by proactively visiting your dentist every six months and performing the proper oral care steps at home.

Park 56 Dental offers same-day emergency appointments to get you the critical care you need when a tooth is knocked out. We understand that dental injuries require immediate, personalized care to put your mind at ease and to restore your smile.

Contact us today at (646) 679-3989 if you have any questions about a dental emergency or what to do. Your safety and well-being are our first priority!