Key Takeaways
- Baby teeth that fall out from injury are generally not reimplanted, but still need a same-day dental visit.
- Getting to a pediatric dentist as quickly as possible, ideally within 30 minutes, gives a knocked-out permanent tooth the best chance of being successfully reimplanted. Teeth pushed up into the gums on impact are a separate emergency that also needs same-day attention.
- Handle a permanent tooth by the crown only, and store it in milk if it won’t stay in the socket.
- Regular checkups help monitor spacing, growth, and dental development after a dental injury.
Knocked-Out Teeth Require Dental Attention
Your child is running, laughing, having the time of their life, and then it happens. A fall, a collision (the classroom line-up bump is a surprisingly common one), a knock to the mouth, and suddenly there’s a tooth on the ground and tears everywhere. It’s one of those parenting moments that nobody really prepares you for.
How to respond to a dislodged tooth depends on what kind of tooth it is. A baby tooth shouldn’t be reimplanted, but a permanent tooth should be put back in its socket when possible.
At London Little Bites Dentistry, we’re no strangers to these kinds of accidents. As pediatric dentists, we provide emergency guidance and work to see urgent dental injuries as quickly as possible.
Baby Tooth vs. Permanent Tooth: Why It Matters
The very first thing to figure out is whether the tooth is a baby tooth or a permanent one.
Baby teeth should not be reimplanted, as doing so can actually damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. Permanent teeth, on the other hand, can sometimes be saved if you act quickly. However, both situations still call for a same-day dental visit.
If you’re not sure what kind of tooth it is, the age of your child can help. Children often start losing baby teeth around age six, and permanent teeth commonly begin coming in around the same time. If you’re not sure which type of tooth was knocked out, call your dental office right away.
If your child is younger than that, they probably lost a baby tooth. However, if you’re in doubt, call your dental office and describe the situation.
What to Do When a Baby Tooth Gets Knocked Out
Stop the Bleeding & Stay Calm
Your calm is contagious, and so is your panic. Take a breath, then help your child rinse their mouth gently with water. Place a cold gauze compress or a clean cloth over the area and have them bite down softly to help control bleeding. A cold pack on the outside of the cheek can also help with swelling.
If you’ve got the tooth, bring it with you to the dentist. Storing it in a small container of milk keeps it moist on the way over.
If you can’t find the tooth at all, tell the dentist right away. A missing tooth doesn’t always mean it’s lost. Sometimes it’s been pushed up into the gums, swallowed, or even inhaled, and the dentist will need to rule those out.
Why a Dentist Visit Still Matters
Even though a knocked-out baby tooth won’t be reimplanted, you’ll still need to visit your dentist. They’ll check for tooth fragments or hidden damage below the gumline and confirm that your child’s mouth is alright.
There’s also the matter of spacing. For younger children, losing a baby tooth too early due to injury can cause neighbouring teeth to drift into the gap. Your dentist can use a device called a space maintainer to keep a spot open for the permanent tooth that’s still growing in.
What to Do When a Permanent Tooth Gets Knocked Out
Handle the Tooth Right Away
Pick the tooth up by the crown— the white part you can see when someone smiles. Never touch the root. The tiny ligament fibres on the root are what allow reimplantation to work, and touching them can cause damage that makes the process less likely to succeed.
- If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently with milk if you have it. Tap water can damage the delicate fibres on the root, but rinsing with water briefly is better than reimplanting a dirt-covered tooth or letting it dry out.
- If everyone’s calm enough and your child is old enough to cooperate, try placing the tooth back into the socket. Have them hold it in place by gently biting on a cloth.
- If that’s not possible, store the tooth immediately.
Store the Tooth Safely If It Won’t Stay In
The tooth needs to stay moist. Place it in a small container of milk or your child’s saliva, and avoid letting the tooth dry out.
Then get to a dentist within 30 minutes. Reimplanting the tooth within this window offers the best chance that the tooth will survive.
Can a Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth Be Saved?
Yes, reimplantation is possible. However, it isn’t guaranteed. Once the knocked-out tooth is placed back in its socket, a small splint is used to hold the tooth steady while the ligaments reattach.
Factors like how long the tooth was out, how it was stored, and the child’s age all play a role in whether the tooth survives. If reimplantation doesn’t work or isn’t possible, your dental team can walk you through other options once the time is right.
How London Little Bites Dentistry Can Help
A knocked-out tooth can feel scary, but you do not have to figure out the next step alone. If your child has a dental injury, call London Little Bites Dentistry in London, ON right away so our team can guide you on what to do and work to see your child as quickly as possible.
We also recommend saving our location and contact details in your phone before an emergency happens. And if you’re looking for a pediatric dental team that understands kids, you can book a visit with us to help keep your child’s smile healthy as they grow.