A Knocked-Out Adult Tooth Needs Fast Action
Get urgent dental help, handle the tooth carefully, and keep it moist. Adult and baby teeth need different responses after an injury.
Get help immediately
A knocked-out permanent tooth is a dental emergency. Contact a dentist immediately and travel for urgent assessment. If there is a serious head or facial injury, loss of consciousness, breathing trouble or uncontrolled bleeding, seek emergency medical care first.[1][2]
Handle the tooth by the crown, the part normally visible in the mouth, rather than the root. Do not scrub it or leave it dry. If you cannot safely replace an adult tooth, keeping it in milk while getting urgent care is an established option. Do not reinsert a baby tooth.[1][2]
Keep the call short and useful
Say that a permanent tooth has been knocked out, when the injury occurred, and how the tooth has been stored. Follow the dental team's immediate instructions. Do not spend time comparing appointment websites or waiting to see whether the socket stops feeling sore.
Bring the tooth and any pieces you find, along with relevant health and medication information if readily available. Saving a tooth cannot be guaranteed, but prompt assessment gives the clinician the best opportunity to consider the options and arrange follow-up.