An injury to the face or mouth can loosen a tooth, push it out of position or knock it out completely. Seek care immediately — and call either office so we can prepare for you.
If a tooth is knocked out
- Pick it up by the crown (the chewing end), not the root.
- If it's dirty, rinse it briefly — don't scrub it.
- If you can, gently put it back in its socket and bite down on a clean cloth.
- Otherwise keep it moist: place it in milk, or hold it inside your cheek. Don't let it dry out.
- Get to a dentist or endodontist right away.
The length of time the tooth was out of the mouth, and how it was stored, influence the treatment you'll need. Depending on the stage of root development, we may begin root canal treatment.
Dislodged teeth
When a tooth is pushed into or out of its socket, we may reposition and stabilize it, then evaluate whether root canal treatment is needed.