Can a Knocked Out Tooth Be Saved?

If you or your child loses a permanent tooth due to an accident or facial trauma, you may worry that your dentist can't save it. However, oral surgeons can often save knocked-out teeth.

What Happens When a Tooth is Knocked Out

Knocking out a tooth is also called luxation. The roots leave the socket when a tooth is knocked out or luxated. The term subluxation means that the tooth is only partially knocked out.

Saving a Knocked-Out Tooth

Step 1: Find the Tooth

After your accident, the first step is to locate the lost tooth. If it is in good condition and you see an oral surgeon promptly, you will maximize their chance of saving the tooth.

Step 2: Rinse the Tooth

Hold the tooth only by the crown; do not touch the root. Rinse the tooth gently in lukewarm water to remove dirt and debris.

Step 3: Preserve the Tooth

You can try to put the tooth back in its socket and hold it in place by gently biting down on a piece of clean gauze. If you can't return the tooth to the socket, place it in a small cup of milk, water, or saliva to help preserve the delicate root cells. You can also find a solution at the pharmacy called Save-a-Tooth.

Step 4: See the Oral Surgeon Right Away

Call your oral surgeon immediately for an emergency visit. Seeing the surgeon within half an hour to an hour will give your tooth the best chance to replant.

Step 5: Replanting the Tooth

Your oral surgeon will examine your tooth to ensure it is not damaged. They will place the tooth back in the socket and prepare for the next step.

Step 6: Splinting the Tooth

Your surgeon will splint the tooth to its neighbors to encourage the roots to reattach in their original position. You may have to wear the splint for two to four weeks.

Knocked-out teeth have a significant chance of replanting when kept moist, and an oral surgeon cares for them within an hour.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Emergencies

What happens if my child knocks out a baby tooth?

Unfortunately, even an oral surgeon cannot replant a baby tooth because it would damage the permanent tooth underneath the gumline. Your oral surgeon or family dentist will want to see your child and determine whether any other teeth incurred damage.

What happens if my replanted tooth falls out again?

In this case, you may need a restoration like a bridge or implant. It is best to replace the tooth rather than leave a gap in your smile since gaps can harbor food particles and bacteria as well as allow neighboring teeth to shift.

Call Braasch OMS

We offer emergency care to keep your teeth safe and your smile complete. If you experience a dental emergency in the Bedford, NH, area, call us for help at 603-657-1984.