A knocked-out tooth is one of the scariest dental emergencies you can experience. With quick thinking, you can get to an emergency dentist and possibly save your tooth! Here’s what to do:
Pick Up the Tooth
The first thing you want to do is find the knocked-out tooth. You want to pick it up by the crown, not the root. If the tooth is dirty, you can gently rinse it off with water. Don’t brush or dry it.
Put the Tooth Back in Its Socket (If Possible)
Ideally, you want to put the tooth back in its socket if you can. You can hold it in place with your fingers or by biting down. A piece of clean gauze can help with placement and bleeding.
Keep the Tooth Moist
If you can’t keep the tooth in its socket, it needs to stay moist somehow. You can hold it in your cheek or store it in a container with milk. You don’t want to use tap water.
Get to an Emergency Dentist Within 30 Minutes
The faster you can get an emergency dentist, the better. Try to see a dentist within 30 minutes of losing your tooth. In some situations, we can still save the tooth if more time has passed, but a half-hour is a good time to aim for. If the tooth is in good shape, it can be re-implanted. If your child’s baby tooth gets knocked out before it’s ready, we won’t re-implant it, but we'll want to check for other damage.
Emergency Dentistry at Gary Johnson DDS Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in Chico, CA
A knocked-out tooth qualifies as an emergency, so don’t hesitate to call us. Dr. Johnson and the team are proud to offer emergency dentistry at our office. Treatment cost varies by patient, but we’ll always provide you with an accurate breakdown beforehand and we won’t surprise you with hidden fees. If you have any questions about dental emergencies or want to schedule an appointment, please contact us today!