Avulsed Teeth

In the United States approximately one to three million permanent teeth accidentally knocked out each year.   Use of a properly fitted mouth guard can dramatically reduce traumatic injury to your teeth.

With appropriate emergency action, a tooth that has been knocked out of its socket can be successfully replanted and last for years.  To have the best chance for success you should be prepared to know what to do if this happens to you or someone with you. The key is to act quickly, calmly, and follow these simple steps.

1. Locate the tooth immediately; do not leave it at the site of the accident.  Pick it up by the crown (the chewing surface) not the root.  At all times the tooth should be handled carefully - touch only the crown - to minimize injury to the root of the tooth.

2. Do not handle the root surface of the tooth.

Important points

Do not use soap or chemicals, only plain water or milk.

Do not scrub the tooth.

Do not dry the tooth, make sure the tooth is kept moist.

Do not wrap it in a tissue or cloth.

3.  If possible, reposition the tooth in socket at once.  The sooner the tooth is replaced, the greater the likelihood it will survive. To reinsert the tooth, carefully push the tooth into the socket with fingers, or position above the socket and close mouth slowly. Hold the tooth in place with fingers or by gently biting down on it.

4.   If you cannot replace the tooth it is vital to keep tooth moist at all times.   The tooth must not be left outside the mouth to dry. If it cannot be replaced on the socket, put it in one of the following:

a)    Emergency tooth preservation kit

b)    Milk

c)    Mouth (next to cheek)

d)    If none of these is practical, use water (with pinch of salt if possible).

5. See a dentist as soon as possible.   Bring the tooth to a dentist or Endodontist as soon as possible - ideally within 30 minutes. However, it is possible to save the tooth even if it has been outside the mouth for an hour or more. (Top of Page)