A knocked-out tooth is one of the few true dental emergencies where minutes really count. If an adult tooth is put back in its socket quickly and handled correctly, there’s a good chance it can be saved. Wait too long, or let the root dry out, and the chances drop sharply.
Save this page or share it with your family, school or sports club. Knowing what to do before it happens is the best way to stay calm when it does.
First: is it a baby tooth or an adult tooth?
The advice is different depending on the type of tooth.
- Baby teeth: do not put them back. Replanting a baby tooth can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Keep your child calm, control bleeding with gentle pressure on a clean cloth, and call us for advice.
- Adult teeth: put it back as soon as possible. Follow the steps below.
As a rough guide, children start losing baby teeth around age 6. If a child is under 6, the tooth is almost certainly a baby tooth. Between 6 and 12 it could be either; if in doubt, keep the tooth in milk and call us immediately.
Step-by-step: knocked-out adult tooth
- Stay calm and find the tooth.
- Pick it up by the crown (the white, chewing part). Don’t touch the root. The root surface has delicate cells that help the tooth reattach.
- If it’s dirty, rinse it very briefly in milk or saline, or a quick splash of water if that’s all you have. Don’t scrub it, don’t use soap and don’t wrap it in tissue.
- Put it back in the socket straight away, facing the right way round, and push it gently into place. Compare it with the tooth next door if you’re unsure which way it goes.
- Hold it in place by biting gently on a clean cloth or handkerchief, or holding it with your fingers.
- See a dentist immediately, ideally within 30 minutes. Call us on (02) 8090 1100; we keep same-day emergency appointments available six days a week.
If you can’t put the tooth back
Sometimes the person is too young, too upset, or has other injuries that make replanting impractical. In that case, keep the root moist:
- Best: place the tooth in a small container of milk, or saline from a first aid kit.
- Next best: an adult can hold it inside their cheek, between the cheek and gums. Don’t do this with young children, who might swallow it.
- If nothing else: wrap it in plastic cling wrap.
- Avoid: storing it in water, letting it dry out, or putting it in tissue or a pocket.
Then get to a dentist as fast as you can. The longer the root is out of the mouth and dry, the lower the chance the tooth will survive.
When to go to hospital instead
Go to an emergency department or call 000 if the person has:
- Lost consciousness, has a headache, vomiting or confusion after the injury
- A possible broken jaw or facial bones
- Bleeding that won’t stop with firm pressure
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
Head injuries come first. The tooth can be dealt with once they’re safe.
What the dentist will do
At the clinic, your dentist will check the tooth is in the right position, take x-rays to look for fractures of the root or bone, and usually splint the tooth to the teeth next to it with a thin wire or bonded material for a couple of weeks while it reattaches. You may need antibiotics, and your dentist may ask you to check your tetanus vaccination is up to date, especially if the tooth fell on soil.
Teeth that have been knocked out often need root canal treatment afterwards, because the nerve and blood supply are usually damaged. Your dentist will monitor the tooth closely over the following months with x-rays.
Other knocks and injuries
A tooth pushed out of position
If a tooth has been pushed in, out or sideways but is still in the mouth, don’t force it back. See a dentist the same day.
A chipped or broken tooth
Rinse your mouth with warm water, keep any broken pieces in milk, and see a dentist. A sharp edge can be covered with sugar-free gum or dental wax until then.
A loose tooth after a knock
Eat soft foods, avoid biting on it, and have it checked. Even if it firms up, the nerve may have been injured.
Preventing dental injuries
- Wear a mouthguard for contact and ball sports, including rugby, AFL, soccer, hockey, basketball, netball and martial arts. Custom-fitted mouthguards made by a dentist fit better and are more comfortable than boil-and-bite versions, so they’re more likely to be worn.
- Use car seats and seatbelts correctly.
- Make homes toddler-safe: soften sharp table corners and use stair gates.
- Don’t use teeth as tools to open packets or bottles.
Put together a dental first aid kit
Add these to your home, car or sports bag kit: a small container with a lid, a few sachets of saline, clean gauze, a cold pack, and a card with your dentist’s phone number. Sports clubs and schools are good places to keep one too.
Knocked-out tooth FAQs
How long do I have to save a knocked-out tooth?
The best results are when the tooth is replanted within minutes. Within 30 minutes still gives a good chance. After an hour of dry storage, the outlook is much poorer, but always seek care: even late, a dentist can advise on the options.
Can a tooth that’s been knocked out last long-term?
Many replanted teeth last for years, but some are eventually replaced by bone or need further treatment. Regular reviews help catch problems early.
What if the tooth can’t be saved?
Missing teeth can be replaced with an implant, bridge or denture. See our guide comparing tooth replacement options.
Is a knocked-out tooth covered by health funds?
Emergency treatment is usually claimable under your dental extras. Accidents during organised sport may also be covered by club or school insurance.
More on our emergency dentist page.
Find out more about emergency dentist in Hornsby.
Book a visit at Hornsby Dental
Hornsby Dental is at Suite 21, 14 Edgeworth David Avenue, Hornsby, about three minutes’ walk from Hornsby Station, with free street parking nearby. We’re open Monday to Friday 9am–6pm and Saturday 8:30am–4pm. Book online or call (02) 8090 1100.
This article is general information only. It isn’t a substitute for advice from your dentist about your own mouth and health.