Reviewed by Dr. Matthew Young, DDS
Reading time: three minutes
If your permanent tooth just fell out, this is an emergency. What you do in the next few minutes can determine whether the tooth can be saved. Acting immediately and getting emergency dental care right away is critical.
Table of Contents
- Immediate Steps to Take If a Permanent Tooth Falls Out
- What Not to Do After a Permanent Tooth Falls Out
- Can a Permanent Tooth Be Saved?
- Emergency Dentist in San Francisco
- FAQs
Immediate Steps to Take If a Permanent Tooth Falls Out
If a permanent tooth falls out, act right away. Do not wait.
- Pick up the tooth by the crown: Hold the tooth by the white chewing surface and avoid touching the root.
- Rinse briefly if the tooth is dirty: Use clean water or saline for a quick rinse, do not scrub or scrap the roots.
- Place the tooth back in the socket if possible: Gently reinsert the tooth into the socket and bite on clean gauze to keep it in place.
- Store the tooth if you cannot reinsert it: Place it in milk or saline and do not let it dry out or sit in water.
- Seek emergency dental care immediately: Aim to see an emergency dentist within 30 to 60 minutes for the best chance of saving the tooth.
Why Immediate Care is Important
The root surface contains living periodontal ligament cells that allow the tooth to reattach to bone. These cells begin to die quickly once the tooth dries out. The longer the delay, the lower the chance of saving the tooth.
What Not to Do After a Permanent Tooth Falls Out
Certain actions can permanently damage the tooth.
- Do not scrub or brush the tooth
- Do not wrap the tooth in tissue or paper
- Do not store the tooth dry
- Do not delay emergency dental care
Can a Permanent Tooth Be Saved?
In many cases, yes. A permanent tooth can often be replanted successfully if handled properly and treated quickly. Outcomes depend on:
- How long the tooth is out of the mouth
- How the tooth is stored
- The condition of the socket
- Overall oral health
Even if more than an hour has passed, the tooth should still be evaluated.
Emergency Dentist in San Francisco
Post Street Dental Group provides emergency dental services in San Francisco, including treatment for knocked-out and displaced teeth.
If you are looking for an emergency dentist in Union Square, call (415) 986-4534 or visit us at 490 Post St Suite 520, San Francisco, CA 94102.
FAQs
If only part of a tooth breaks off, it is still considered a dental emergency. The exposed area can be painful and vulnerable to infection.
If the visible part of the tooth breaks off and the root remains, the root can become infected or cause pain and swelling. The remaining root usually needs to be removed or treated by a dentist to prevent complications.
Leaving a missing tooth untreated can lead to shifting teeth, bite problems, bone loss in the jaw, and increased stress on surrounding teeth. Over time, this can affect chewing, appearance, and long-term oral health.
If an adult tooth falls out due to injury or decay, the best treatment option is to replace it with a dental implant.