Knocked-out tooth — what to do right now

When a permanent tooth is knocked loose from the jaw, the next several minutes decide a great deal. The American Dental Association notes that a tooth put back quickly has the best outlook, with the strongest results in roughly the first half hour. Follow the steps below in order, and keep calm; you can do most of this yourself before you ever reach a dental chair.

First, locate the tooth and handle it correctly

Pick the tooth up by the crown, which is the smooth white chewing surface. Do not hold it by the root. The thin layer of living cells on the root is what lets the tooth reattach, and rubbing or squeezing it damages that layer.

Second, a quick rinse only

If there is dirt or debris on it, hold it under cool running water for a few seconds, ten at most. Do not scrub, and do not use soap, alcohol, mouthwash, or hydrogen peroxide. Do not wipe it dry on your shirt either.

Third, set it back in the socket if possible

Check that it is the right way round, then ease it into the empty space with light pressure. Once it is in, bite down gently on a clean cloth or gauze to keep it from shifting. Of everything you can do at the scene, this does the most good.

Fourth, if it will not go back, keep it wet

Drop the tooth into a small cup of cold milk. Milk is gentle on root cells and helps preserve them. A saline solution is a reasonable second choice. A tooth that dries out loses its chance, so never leave it sitting in the open air.

Fifth, get to a dentist without delay

Call (407) 634-1631 as soon as the tooth is protected. We will connect you with an Orlando emergency dentist who can assess and reimplant it. The American Dental Association reports that reimplantation tends to work best within about 30 minutes, so do not stop to wait and see.

Mistakes that reduce the chances

Avoid scrubbing the tooth, wrapping it in tissue or a dry cloth, or leaving it in tap water beyond that brief rinse. Do not force a tooth back in if it has broken into pieces. Also hold off on pushing it in if the injured person is drowsy, confused, or was knocked out, since the tooth could be swallowed or inhaled. In those cases, keep the tooth in milk and get medical attention first.

Traveling to the office

If the tooth is back in place, keep a light bite on the cloth and resist the urge to touch it. If it is not, carry it in a lidded container of cold milk. An older child or adult who is alert can instead hold it inside the cheek. Make a note of the time of the accident, because the dentist will ask. Let someone else drive when you can, and call ahead so the team is prepared. Whether you are coming from a theme park, a lake, or a pickup game in Kissimmee, the same rules apply.

What follows once the tooth is back

Usually the dentist will stabilize the tooth against its neighbors with a splint for a week or two. If the injury happened outdoors or the wound was dirty, you may be advised to confirm your tetanus protection. Reimplanted adult teeth sometimes need a root canal later, and your dentist will explain the timing. Stick to soft foods, clean the area gently with a soft brush, and attend every follow-up, since those visits catch trouble early.

Lowering the odds of a repeat

Sports, bike spills, and falls cause most of these injuries. A well-fitted mouthguard is the easiest safeguard, and anyone playing contact sports is better off with one made to fit.

Why every minute counts

After a tooth leaves the socket, the cells on the root begin to dry and die. Once they are gone, the body has little to reattach to, and the tooth is far less likely to survive over the long term. That explains the urgency: the choices you make in the first few minutes, such as how you carry the tooth and whether it stays wet, often matter more than anything the dentist does later. If you are at a pool, a park, or a rental in Orlando and no milk is nearby, ask a nearby shop or restaurant for some; it is worth the short detour.

Staying calm while you act

Facial injuries bleed a lot and look worse than they are. Take a breath, sit down if you feel faint, and press a clean cloth against any bleeding gum. Have a second person help if possible: one to look after the injured person, another to find the tooth and make the call.

If it was a baby tooth

Primary teeth are not put back in. Stop any bleeding, reassure your child, and book a visit so a dentist can look for fragments and check the permanent tooth growing underneath.

Searching for an emergency dentist near me?

Distance is the wrong sort order. We look at which Orlando office has a free chair rather than which is nearest, because I-4 and the 408 change the answer by the hour. Walk-in patients are accepted at some practices and those slots fill through the day, so one call to (407) 634-1631 is faster than driving between offices.