If an adult tooth is knocked out cleanly, the best chance of saving it is to put it back in the socket as soon as possible — ideally within minutes, and certainly within an hour.
Step by step
Pick the tooth up by the crown, never the root. If it is dirty, rinse it for a few seconds in milk or saline — don’t scrub it. Push it gently back into the socket, the right way round, and bite on a clean cloth to hold it. Then call us.
If you can’t put it back, keep it in milk, or in the person’s cheek if they are old enough not to swallow it, and come in straight away.
Baby teeth are different
Never replant a baby tooth — it can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Call us so we can check the area.
If there is a head injury, loss of consciousness, or bleeding you cannot stop, go to the emergency room first.