A knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency. If your tooth gets knocked out, you only have approximately 30 to 60 minutes to save it. During these crucial minutes, you have to follow the correct procedure to save a tooth.
When you need to reimplant or replace a tooth, Boise Family Dental Care can help. Our competent and caring team offers emergency dental services for those with knocked-out teeth and tooth replacement at our Boise practice.
Knocking Out a Baby Tooth
When a young child has a knocked-out tooth, they may have knocked out a baby tooth. Baby teeth start becoming loose when children are about 6 years old, and when one of these teeth comes out, there’s no need for concern — it may simply result in a lovely reward from the tooth fairy.
You’ll notice that baby teeth are usually whiter and smaller than adult teeth. Unlike permanent teeth, which have cusps (bumps on the biting edge), baby teeth are generally smoother.
What to Do When a Permanent Tooth Gets Knocked Out
Act swiftly if one of your or your child’s permanent teeth is knocked out. Within an hour, you need to place the tooth back into its socket (the gap in your mouth where the tooth used to be) to increase its survival rate and chances of being reimplanted.
Take action to save the tooth by following these steps:
1
Locate the Tooth
When a tooth goes flying, locate it immediately. When you’ve found the knocked-out tooth, pick it up by the crown (the chewing surface area) and not by the roots (the pointy, yellowish part), which contain important fibers necessary for healing.
2
Clean the Tooth (Only if Necessary)
If the tooth is visibly dirty, gently rinse it in a homemade saline solution for a few seconds. You can use the following for the solution:
Mix the salt and water until the salt is dissolved, and place your tooth in the solution. It’s important to avoid scrubbing the tooth or removing any attached gum tissue.
3
Visit the Dentist
A knocked-out tooth needs immediate medical attention. To give your tooth the best chance of survival, get in the car immediately and call us to let us know you’re on your way. We will prepare for your arrival and help you swiftly. Be sure to transport your tooth correctly to increase its chances of survival.
How to Transport a Knocked-Out Tooth
The best way to transport your tooth to the dentist is to place it back in the socket. Gently hold the tooth by the crown and wiggle the roots into the socket. Don’t try to force it into place to prevent root and tooth socket injury. If you’re able to reinsert your tooth, bite on something soft like gauze, a handkerchief or a napkin to keep it in place.
If reinsertion isn’t possible, you can simply keep the tooth in your cheek or under your tongue. The saliva in your mouth will help keep your tooth wet, but you must be careful not to swallow it accidentally.
Alternatively, store your tooth in milk, as it helps maintain the important fibers in the roots of the tooth. Place your tooth in a container, covering the entire tooth with milk. It’s best to use a container with a lid to prevent spills on your way to the dentist.
How a Dentist Fixes a Knocked-Out Tooth
Our experienced dentists provide fast and efficient knocked-out tooth treatment to help save your tooth and restore your brilliant smile.
If you were able to place your tooth in the socket before your dentist appointment, your dentist will evaluate your tooth for any damage and ensure it is in the correct position. They will thoroughly examine it and take an X-ray. To secure your tooth, your dentist may rely on a technique called splinting, where we temporarily secure your tooth to the teeth on either side. Splinting your tooth to the adjunct teeth for seven to 10 days helps prevent your tooth from moving so it can reattach to the bone.
If you could not reinsert the tooth yourself, your dentist would examine the tooth thoroughly. Then, they might numb the area around the socket and reinsert the tooth. They might also rely on splinting to hold your tooth in position temporarily.
After the procedure, your dentist will explain how to care for your tooth properly. Normally, this involves taking over-the-counter pain medication and some dietary adjustments. You’ll want to eat soft foods and chew on the healthy side of your mouth for the first few days. It’s also important to avoid touching the tooth to ensure it recovers well and stays in place.
Don't Wait — Get the Care You Need
The sooner we see you, the more options we have. Give us a call or schedule online.
Tooth Replacements
Our dentists will go above and beyond to try and save your tooth. However, sometimes this is not possible. We offer emergency tooth replacement at our Boisie practice. If you were unable to find or save the knocked-out tooth, you can fill the gap with these options:
Let’s Put a Smile on Your Face
During a dental emergency, it’s essential to rely on a dental team experienced in handling a crisis. You can confidently rely on Boise Family Dental Care during your time of need. We provide:
Five-star service
Our team has received over 250 five-star Google reviews, and we offer the same level of service when you visit our practice. Take a look at our reviews to see what makes our patients smile.
Dentistry for the whole family
Whether you or your child has a knocked-out tooth, our experienced team helps adults and children. In fact, we offer award-winning dentistry for the whole family. We’ve won various awards and serve each family member with excellence.
An experienced team
Dr. Steven Crump has been practicing since 2006. He works with a team of passionate and experienced professionals who love to give our patients something to smile about. They confidently handle emergencies such as a knocked-out tooth by acting quickly and accurately.
Contact Us When You Have an Emergency
Now that you know how to save a knocked-out tooth, we encourage you to keep our contact details nearby in case of an emergency. You can count on us to do our best to fix knocked-out teeth. And if we can’t save your tooth, we can expertly replace your tooth. If you need help right away, we encourage you to
schedule an appointment online or contact our friendly team at
208-376-7413.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about knocking out a tooth. For more information, contact us online.
What Causes Knocked-Out Teeth?
Healthy teeth are sturdy and strong, and it will take a lot of force to knock one out. However, there are some common reasons why you might have a knocked-out tooth. These include the following:
How Do I Prevent Knocked-Out Teeth?
Accidents happen, and it’s not always possible to prevent knocking out a tooth. However, we recommend wearing a mouth guard to protect your teeth if you play contact sports.
