Knocked-out and injured teeth

If there is a serious injury to the face or head, trouble breathing, or bleeding that will not stop, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room first.

A knocked-out adult tooth

1. Pick it up by the crown, the part you chew with. Do not touch the root.
2. If it is dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or water. Do not scrub it.
3. If you can, put it back in the socket and bite gently on a cloth to hold it.
4. If you cannot, keep it moist in milk or inside your cheek, and do not let it dry out.
5. Call your dentist or either office right away.

A tooth pushed in, out or sideways

Do not force it back. Call your dentist or either office so it can be repositioned and splinted.

A broken tooth

Save any pieces, rinse your mouth with warm water, and use a cold compress on the outside of your cheek for swelling. Call to be seen.

How an endodontist helps

Injured teeth often need care for the pulp inside. For a child or teenager whose root has not finished growing, treatments such as apexification help the root end form so the tooth can be kept. An endodontist is also trained in replanting knocked-out teeth and checking them as they heal.