Knocked-out tooth

What it can mean

A tooth knocked out by a fall, a ball or a collision is a true dental emergency, but a hopeful one: the cells on the root surface can survive for a short time outside the mouth, and a tooth replanted quickly has a good chance of reattaching. The clock starts the moment it comes out.

Do this now: pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), never the root. If it's dirty, rinse it very briefly in milk or saline — don't scrub. If you can, push it gently back into the socket and bite on a clean cloth. If you can't, keep it in milk or tucked inside your cheek, and call us immediately. Baby teeth are not replanted — but the child should still be checked.

How we can help

• Immediate phone advice while you're on your way
• Replant and splint the tooth to its neighbours
• Follow-up care and root canal treatment if the nerve doesn't survive