Tooth Injury

When To Call

Call Your Dentist or Doctor Now (night or day) If

• You think your child has a serious injury
• Permanent tooth knocked out (Reason: needs reimplantation ASAP; 2 hours is the deadline for tooth survival) --See FIRST AID
• Permanent tooth is almost falling out
• Baby tooth is almost falling out
• Bleeding won't stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure
• Tooth is greatly pushed out of its normal position
• Tooth that's pushed out of its normal position interferes with normal bite
• Severe pain
• Age under 1 year old
• You think your child needs to be seen urgently

Call Your Dentist Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If

• You think your child needs to be seen, but not urgently
• Baby tooth knocked out by injury (Reason: can't be reimplanted but dentist will check for damage to permanent tooth)
• Tooth is slightly pushed out of its normal position
• Can see a chip or fracture line (crack) in the tooth
• Tooth feels very loose when you try to move it

Call Your Dentist During Weekday Office Hours If

• Tooth sensitive to cold fluids
• Tooth becomes a darker color
• You have other questions or concerns

Parent Care at Home If

• Minor tooth injury and you don't think your child needs to be seen

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information. For more information, click here.

Care Advice

Home Care Advice for Minor Dental Injuries

Photos

First Aid - Tooth - Knocked Out

To save the tooth, it must be put back in the socket (reimplanted) as soon as possible. Two hours is the outer limit for survival. Right away is best.

Here are the steps for putting the tooth back in the socket:

• Step 1: Rinse off the tooth with saliva or water. Do not scrub the tooth.
• Step 2: Replace it in the socket facing the correct way. Press down on the tooth with your thumb until the crown is level with the adjacent tooth.
• Step 3: Lastly, bite down on a wad of cloth to stabilize the tooth until the injured person can be seen by a dentist. If your dentist is not immediately available, then go to the emergency department.

If the tooth cannot be put back in its socket: Place the tooth in either milk or saliva to keep it from drying out, and go right away to the dentist. Again, If your dentist is not immediately available, then go to the emergency department.

Special Note: Even if you get the tooth back in the socket right away, only time will tell whether the tooth will live. It may not.

Source: LMS Inc.
Copyright 2000-2012. Self Care Decisions, LLC. Used by Permission.

First Aid - Tooth - Transport in Milk

It is very important to keep the knocked out (avulsed) tooth moist. Do not let it dry out. Transport the tooth in milk or saliva. These images show how to transport the tooth in milk.

• Milk Transport - Method 1 (best): Place tooth in a small plastic bag with some milk. Put plastic bag in a cup of ice.
• Milk Transport - Method 2: Place tooth in a cup of cool milk.

Source: LMS Inc.
Copyright 2000-2012. Self Care Decisions, LLC. Used by Permission.

First Aid - Tooth - Transport in Saliva

It is very important to keep the tooth moist. Do not let it dry out. Transport the tooth in milk or saliva. These images show how to transport the tooth in saliva.

• Saliva Transport Method 1: Put the tooth in the mouth inside the cheek. (Only fully alert adults should use this method.)
• Saliva Transport Method 2: Put the tooth in a cup and keep tooth moist with saliva (spit).

Source: LMS Inc.
Copyright 2000-2012. Self Care Decisions, LLC. Used by Permission.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information. For more information, click here.