True emergency
Knocked-out tooth: call us first — minutes matter.
A knocked-out (avulsed) permanent tooth is a true dental emergency. The chance of saving the tooth drops sharply with every minute it’s out of the socket. Call us at 540-414-8423 immediately.
If you can find the tooth: pick it up by the crown (the white part), not the root. Rinse it gently with milk or saline if it’s dirty — never scrub it. If you can, place it back in the socket and bite gently on a clean cloth to hold it in place. If you can’t reinsert it, store it in milk or in the patient’s own saliva (held inside the cheek for adults) until you reach the office.
Get to the office as fast as you can. The best chance of saving a tooth is to have it reimplanted within 30 minutes. After an hour, the odds drop considerably. After two hours, reimplantation rarely succeeds.
Baby teeth that get knocked out are not usually reimplanted — reimplantation can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. Bring the tooth and the child in anyway so we can check for other injuries and discuss next steps.
When to come in
Come see us if…
- An adult permanent tooth has been knocked completely out — call immediately.
- A tooth has been pushed in or out of position by trauma.
- A child has lost a baby tooth from a fall or collision.
New Patients Welcome
Ready to plan your visit?
Whether it’s been six months or six years since your last appointment, you’re welcome here. Getting started takes just a few minutes — and we’ll meet you where you are.