What to Do If a Tooth Gets Knocked Out
A knocked-out tooth is a time-sensitive dental emergency. Follow this minute-by-minute protocol to maximize chances of saving the tooth.
The Critical 60-Minute Window for Avulsed Teeth
When an entire tooth is knocked completely out of its socket (avulsion), the clock starts ticking immediately. The living periodontal ligament (PDL) cells covering the root surface begin drying out and dying within 15 minutes of exposure to air. If the tooth is re-implanted within 30 to 60 minutes, the prognosis for long-term retention is significantly higher.
Step-by-Step Emergency Protocol
- Handle by the crown only: Pick the tooth up by the white chewing crown. NEVER touch, scrape, or wipe the root surface. Damaging the PDL fibers drastically lowers re-implantation success.
- Rinse briefly if soiled: If the tooth fell on the ground, gently rinse it in cold milk or saline for 10 seconds. Do not scrub, brush, or use tap water, alcohol, or soap.
- Attempt gentle re-insertion: If you feel confident, gently align the tooth into its socket in the correct orientation and have the patient bite down softly on a clean handkerchief or gauze.
- Proper storage if not re-inserted: If re-insertion is impossible, submerge the tooth in cold whole milk or a dedicated storage solution like Save-A-Tooth. If milk is unavailable, keep it in the patient's cheek pouch (saliva) only if they are old enough not to swallow it. Avoid storing in plain tap water.
- Go immediately to an emergency dentist: Contact an El Paso emergency dentist or oral surgery center right away.
Adult Tooth vs. Baby Tooth: A Critical Difference
Never re-implant a knocked-out primary (baby) tooth. Attempting to force a primary tooth back into the jaw can disturb or permanently damage the developing adult tooth follicle nestled directly beneath the socket. However, a child should still be evaluated by a dentist to confirm no root fragments remain in the bone.
What Happens at the Dental Office
Your dentist will gently irrigate the socket, position the tooth into place under local anesthesia, and apply a flexible splint connecting the reimplanted tooth to neighboring sound teeth for 1 to 2 weeks. Follow-up root canal therapy is typically planned to prevent root resorption.
Need Clinical Evaluation for This Condition?
Don't wait for bacterial infection to spread. Call our emergency triage line to discuss same-day appointment availability.
When a Dental Problem May Be a Medical Emergency
Certain oral symptoms extend beyond the scope of an outpatient dental clinic and require immediate emergency room intervention:
Difficulty Breathing or Shortness of Breath
Swelling spreading into the floor of the mouth or throat (such as Ludwig’s angina) can compress your airway rapidly.
Difficulty Swallowing Saliva or Fluids
Inability to swallow your own saliva indicates dangerous constriction of the pharyngeal and submandibular spaces.
Rapidly Expanding Facial or Neck Swelling
Infections that expand rapidly across the jawline, into the neck, or toward the eye socket need emergency hospital intervention.
Uncontrolled Bleeding
Oral hemorrhaging that does not slow after 20 to 30 minutes of firm direct gauze pressure.
Severe Facial Trauma & Concussion
Suspected broken jawbone, inability to close teeth, loss of consciousness, nausea, or dizziness after an impact.
Speak With an Emergency Dental Professional in El Paso
Call our local line or submit an appointment inquiry to be seen promptly.
Phone line: (915) 283-3636 · Available for El Paso & surrounding areas