A knocked out tooth can be a frightening experience, whether it happens to you or a loved one. It can be easy to panic, but keeping calm and acting quickly increases your chances of saving the tooth. Can a knocked out tooth be saved? In many cases, yes, with the right treatment at the right time. 

What To Do About a Knocked Out Tooth 

If a tooth gets knocked out, take the following steps for the best chance of saving the tooth. 

1. Clean the tooth. If the tooth is knocked completely out of your mouth and lands on the floor or ground, you will need to clean it. Handle the tooth by the crown only, avoiding touching the roots. Rinse the tooth in water or milk (plug the drain of your sink to be safe). 
2. Put the tooth back in the socket. Once the tooth is clean, attempt to put it back in the socket. Only do this with a permanent tooth. Do not attempt to put a baby tooth back in the socket, because it can damage the permanent tooth underneath. If you are successful at getting the tooth back in place, bite down on some clean gauze to stop the bleeding and secure the tooth. 
3. Put the tooth in a cup of milk or saliva. If you are unable to get the tooth back in the socket, place it in a cup of milk or saliva. Be sure to cover the tooth completely with liquid. Avoid using water, as this will cause the tooth to deteriorate and dry out. 
4. Call an endodontist. The next step is to call an endodontist. Why call an endodontist and not your general dentist? Because an endodontist specializes in saving teeth. A knocked out tooth is highly likely to have internal damage to the dental pulp, the soft tissue at the center of the tooth. An endodontist has the necessary expertise to save the tooth, if possible. 

Factors That Affect the Chances of Saving the Tooth 

• Time. Time is of the essence with a knocked out tooth. The tooth can only remain out of the socket for up to 30 minutes. In rare cases a tooth that has been out of the mouth can last for up to 60 minutes, as long as it is stored in milk or saliva. 
• Proper treatment. The tooth needs to be treated by a professional for the best chance of saving it. In many cases a knocked out tooth will need a root canal due to internal damage from trauma. 
• Condition of the tooth. If the tooth is too damaged from being knocked out it may not be saveable. If the tooth is broken or the root is damaged, saving the tooth may not be possible. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Knocked Out Teeth 

Why should you avoid soaking a knocked out tooth in water? 

Water can cause damage to the cells of the tooth and root. It causes them to break down and deteriorate, which reduces the chances that the tooth can be put back in the socket successfully. 

What is a tooth preservation kit? 

Tooth preservations kits are sometimes part of first aid kits. If a tooth is knocked out, the kit contains a special balanced salt solution that is ideal for preserving the tooth until it can be put back in the socket. 

Contact Heart of Texas Endodontics 

In case of a knocked out tooth, contact Heart of Texas Endodontics. We provide treatment for dental trauma during regular office hours and after hours. 

Call 254-778-4400 to reach our Temple office location or 254-778-4400 to reach our Waco office. If you reach us after hours, follow the voicemail prompts to leave a message and someone will contact you shortly with instructions. 

For non-emergency situations, contact us and we will be in touch.