A tooth injury can happen suddenly—from a sports accident, fall, car accident, hard bite, or impact to the mouth. A chipped tooth may look minor, while a cracked, displaced, or knocked-out tooth can require urgent dental care. Knowing the immediate response to a tooth injury can help protect the injured area while you arrange professional evaluation.
If you have injured a tooth, stay calm and avoid chewing on the affected side. Check for bleeding, swelling, severe pain, a loose or displaced tooth, or a missing tooth. Dental injuries should be evaluated promptly, especially when a permanent tooth has been knocked out or moved from its normal position.
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What Should You Do Immediately After a Tooth Injury?
First, gently rinse your mouth with clean water if there is dirt, blood, or debris. Do not scrub an injured tooth or gums. If there is swelling, a cold compress applied to the outside of the cheek can help reduce swelling. If there is bleeding from the soft tissues, use clean gauze or cloth with gentle pressure.
Next, contact a dentist as soon as possible. Dental trauma can involve damage that is not obvious from the outside, including injury to the tooth’s inner structures or supporting tissues. A dental examination and, when appropriate, imaging can help determine the extent of the injury.
What If a Permanent Tooth Is Knocked Out?
A knocked-out permanent tooth is a dental emergency. Handle the tooth carefully by the crown—the part normally visible in the mouth—and avoid touching the root. If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it with water without scrubbing or removing attached tissue.
If possible, gently place the permanent tooth back into its socket without forcing it. If that is not possible, keep the tooth moist. The American Dental Association advises placing it in milk, between the cheek and gums, or in an appropriate tooth-preservation product, and getting to a dentist right away. Time matters when a permanent tooth has been avulsed.
What Should You Do for a Broken or Cracked Tooth?
If a tooth breaks or cracks, rinse your mouth gently with warm water to clean the area. Use a cold compress on the outside of the face if swelling develops. Save any broken tooth fragment if you can and bring it to the dental appointment.
Do not chew hard foods on the injured side, and do not try to repair the tooth yourself. A cracked or broken tooth may need treatment depending on how much of the tooth is damaged and whether the inner portion of the tooth is affected.
What If the Tooth Is Loose or Moved Out of Position?
A tooth that becomes loose or shifts after an impact may have damage to the tissues supporting it. Do not repeatedly wiggle the tooth or attempt to force it back into place. Avoid chewing on that side and arrange an urgent dental evaluation.
Prompt assessment is especially important when the injury involves a permanent tooth, significant pain, bleeding, swelling, or a change in the way your teeth come together.
When Is a Tooth Injury a Dental Emergency?
Seek urgent dental care when you have a knocked-out permanent tooth, a tooth that has been displaced, a significant fracture, severe dental pain after an injury, uncontrolled bleeding, substantial swelling, or trauma involving the face or jaw.
If the injury is associated with difficulty breathing, a serious head or facial injury, loss of consciousness, or another potentially life-threatening medical problem, seek emergency medical care immediately. Dental care should not delay treatment of a medical emergency.
What Should You Avoid After a Tooth Injury?
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- Do not scrub a knocked-out tooth or touch its root.
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- Do not use sharp objects to remove debris from an injured area.
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- Do not chew hard or sticky foods with the injured tooth.
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- Do not attempt to glue, file, or repair a damaged tooth yourself.
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- Do not delay professional evaluation when a permanent tooth has been knocked out or displaced.
Can a Tooth Injury Cause Problems Later?
Yes. Some dental trauma may cause symptoms immediately, while other problems may become noticeable later. A tooth can appear intact after an impact but still require evaluation. Depending on the injury, your dentist may recommend monitoring, restoration, treatment of the tooth’s inner tissues, or other care.
This is why a dental examination after a significant tooth injury is important even when the pain seems manageable.
How Is a Tooth Injury Treated?
Treatment depends on the type and severity of the injury. Minor chips may sometimes be restored with bonding or another conservative option. More extensive fractures may require a crown or other restorative treatment. A severely damaged or non-restorable tooth may need extraction. Some traumatic injuries may require treatment to address damage to the tooth’s pulp or supporting structures.
Your dentist will examine the tooth and surrounding tissues and may use dental X-rays or other imaging when needed to determine the appropriate treatment plan.
How Can You Prevent Tooth Injuries?
Many dental injuries can be reduced with simple precautions. Wear a properly fitted mouthguard during sports or recreational activities. Avoid chewing ice, hard candy, or other objects that can crack teeth, and never use your teeth as tools to open packages.
Need Emergency Dental Care in Bartlett, TN?
If you have experienced a broken, cracked, loose, displaced, or knocked-out tooth, Dental ERx provides emergency and urgent dental care in Bartlett, Tennessee. Dental ERx is located inside St. Francis Bartlett Hospital’s Medical Arts Pavilion and offers emergency evaluations, on-site imaging when needed, and same-day care when available.
Call Dental ERx to confirm provider availability and current wait times, or use the practice’s telehealth service when appropriate. For a serious medical emergency such as difficulty breathing or a major head injury, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tooth Injuries
What is the immediate response to a tooth injury?
The immediate response to a tooth injury is to gently rinse your mouth, control any soft-tissue bleeding with clean gauze, use a cold compress for swelling, and avoid chewing on the injured side. Contact a dentist promptly, especially if the tooth is loose, displaced, cracked, severely painful, or knocked out.
What should I do if my permanent tooth gets knocked out?
Handle the tooth by the crown rather than the root. Gently rinse it with water if it is dirty, without scrubbing. If possible, carefully place it back into its socket. If that is not possible, keep it moist in milk or an appropriate tooth-preservation solution and seek emergency dental care immediately.
Is a chipped tooth considered a dental emergency?
A small chip without pain or other symptoms may not require emergency treatment, but it should still be evaluated by a dentist. A larger fracture, significant pain, bleeding, or damage that exposes the inner part of the tooth may require urgent dental care.
How long can I wait after a tooth injury before seeing a dentist?
It is best to have a significant tooth injury evaluated as soon as possible. Knocked-out or displaced permanent teeth require particularly urgent attention. Delaying care may reduce treatment options or increase the risk of complications.
What should I do if my tooth is loose after an accident?
Do not repeatedly move or wiggle the tooth. Avoid chewing on the affected side and arrange an urgent dental examination. A loose tooth after an impact may indicate injury to the tissues supporting the tooth.