What to do right now
If we’re closed
We’re open Mon–Fri 9am–6pm and Sat 9am–1pm, and closed on Sundays and the main public holidays. Outside those times:
- For advice at any time: call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak with a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Call 000 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department for swelling that affects your breathing, swallowing or eye, bleeding you can’t control, a high fever with facial swelling, or a head injury.
- Knocked-out adult tooth: put it back in or keep it in milk as described above, then go to a hospital emergency department straight away. Don’t wait for us to open.
Hospital emergency departments can manage pain, infection and injuries, but they generally don’t provide dental treatment such as fillings or root canals. Call us on 08 9447 1514 when we next open, and bring any discharge notes or prescriptions with you.
Adult tooth or baby tooth?
The first question is whether the tooth is a baby tooth or an adult tooth, because the advice is completely different. Adult front teeth usually come through between about six and eight years of age, so a front tooth knocked out of a child under six is very likely to be a baby tooth. Adult teeth are generally larger, with a long root.
If you’re not sure, don’t try to put it back. Keep it in milk and call us straight away, and we’ll help you work it out over the phone.
Why speed and storage matter for adult teeth
The root of a tooth is covered in a thin layer of living cells that help reattach it to the bone. Those cells start to die within minutes once the root dries out. Getting the tooth back in its socket quickly, or into a liquid that keeps the cells alive, gives it a better chance of reattaching.
Milk is a good short-term storage option because it’s readily available and gentle on the root cells. If there’s no milk, an adult can hold the tooth inside their cheek in their own saliva, or it can be wrapped in plastic cling film. Avoid tap water, which damages the root surface, and never let the tooth dry out in a tissue or pocket.
Handling a knocked‑out baby tooth
Never put a baby tooth back in. Replanting it can damage the adult tooth developing just above or below it in the jaw. Instead, have your child bite gently on clean gauze to stop the bleeding, offer a cold drink or ice block to soothe the area, and call us.
It’s still worth bringing your child in. We check that the whole tooth came out, that nothing is left in the gum, and that the neighbouring teeth weren’t loosened. A missing baby front tooth usually doesn’t need replacing, although we’ll talk you through spacing if it was lost early.
When to go to hospital first
A knocked‑out tooth often comes with other injuries. Go to a hospital emergency department or call 000 if there has been a head knock with drowsiness, vomiting or loss of consciousness, a possible broken jaw, a deep cut to the face or lips, bleeding you can’t control, or swelling affecting breathing, swallowing or the eye. Take the tooth with you in milk.
If the tooth landed in soil or the injury involved dirt, check whether the injured person’s tetanus protection is up to date, as their GP or the hospital may recommend a booster.
What we do at the visit
If you’ve already replanted the tooth, we check it’s sitting in the right position and take a digital x‑ray to look for fractures in the root or bone. If it’s been stored in milk, we gently clean the socket and root under local anaesthetic and ease the tooth back into place.
We then attach a thin, flexible splint to the neighbouring teeth to hold it steady while the gum and bone heal, usually for about two weeks. You may be prescribed antibiotics and an antibacterial mouthwash, and we’ll ask you to stick to soft foods and brush carefully around the area with a soft brush.
Follow‑up and long‑term outlook
A replanted adult tooth usually needs root canal treatment, because its nerve and blood supply are often damaged beyond repair. This is commonly started within the first couple of weeks, sometimes before the splint comes off. In young teenagers whose roots are still developing, the nerve sometimes recovers, so your dentist may watch closely first.
Regular review appointments with x‑rays are needed over the following months and years. Some replanted teeth do well for a very long time, while others are slowly absorbed by the body or fuse to the bone. If the tooth can’t be kept, options include an implant once growth has finished, a bridge or a denture, and your dentist will explain what suits your age and situation. Treatment after a dental injury is sometimes claimed under major dental, depending on your fund and policy.
Teeth that are loosened or pushed out of place
Not every knock removes the tooth completely. A tooth may be loosened, pushed further into the gum, pushed partway out, or bent forwards or backwards. These injuries also need prompt attention. Don’t try to force the tooth back yourself; bite gently on a clean cloth to keep it still and call us.
At the visit, your dentist may gently reposition the tooth under local anaesthetic, splint it if it’s loose, and take x‑rays to check the root. Teeth pushed up into the gum behave differently in children and adults, so sometimes the plan is to let the tooth re‑emerge on its own while we monitor it. As with a knocked‑out tooth, the nerve can be affected, so review visits are important even when the tooth looks fine.
Preventing injuries in sport
Many knocked‑out teeth happen during contact sport, skateboarding, cycling and backyard play. A well-fitted mouthguard spreads the force of a blow and can reduce the risk of teeth being knocked out or broken. A custom-made guard, fitted to your teeth from a mould, is generally more comfortable and stays in place better than a boil‑and‑bite version. Wear it at training as well as on game day. Children’s guards usually need replacing as their teeth and jaws grow, so it’s worth having the fit checked at each check‑up.
Questions about a knocked‑out tooth
How long can a knocked‑out tooth survive outside the mouth?
The sooner it goes back in, the better. Teeth replanted within about 30 minutes generally do better, and the outlook worsens the longer the root is dry. A tooth kept moist in milk or saliva can sometimes still be replanted later, so it’s always worth calling.
Should I clean the tooth before putting it back?
Only a very brief rinse in milk if it’s visibly dirty. Don’t scrub the root, use soap or disinfectant, or remove any tissue attached to it. Those delicate fibres help the tooth reattach.
My child’s baby tooth was knocked out. Will the adult tooth be affected?
Sometimes. A hard knock can affect the developing adult tooth, which may later come through with a white or brown mark or a slight change in shape. We’ll keep an eye on it at your child’s regular check‑ups.
Why does a replanted tooth usually need root canal treatment?
When a tooth is knocked out, the blood vessels and nerve at the root tip are torn. In fully formed adult teeth they rarely reconnect, and the dead tissue can become infected. Root canal treatment removes it and helps the tooth stay in place.
Can I eat normally while the tooth is splinted?
Stick to soft foods and avoid biting into anything with the injured tooth while the splint is on. Cut food into small pieces and chew towards the back. Keep the area clean with gentle brushing and any mouthwash your dentist recommends.
My tooth wasn’t knocked out but it’s darker now. Is that a problem?
A tooth that turns grey or darker in the weeks or months after a knock may have a damaged nerve. It doesn’t always hurt, so let us know. An x‑ray can show whether it needs treatment.