Quick answer: For a knocked-out adult tooth, handle it by the crown only, rinse gently without scrubbing, and either reinsert it into the socket or keep it in milk while you get to a dentist — time is critical. For a chip or crack, keep any fragment, avoid chewing on that side, and call the practice the same day.
A knocked-out adult tooth
This is the one where minutes genuinely matter, because the cells on the root surface do not survive long once the tooth is out of the socket.
- Pick the tooth up by the crown — the part you normally see. Do not touch the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or saline. Do not scrub it, do not use soap, and do not dry it.
- If you can, put it back in the socket the right way round and bite gently on a clean cloth to hold it.
- If you cannot reinsert it, keep it in milk. Saliva is a distant second choice. Water is the worst option because it damages the root cells.
- Get to a dentist immediately. Call (860) 756-5423 on the way.
A knocked-out baby tooth should not be reinserted, because doing so can damage the developing adult tooth underneath. Contact the practice for advice.
A chipped tooth
Keep any fragment — it can sometimes be bonded back. Rinse with warm water, and use a cold compress on the outside of the face if there is swelling. Avoid chewing on that side. Even a small chip can leave dentine exposed, which is why teeth become sensitive afterwards, and a rough edge can cut the tongue or lip.
Depending on the size, treatment might be smoothing the edge, bonding, a veneer or a crown.
A cracked tooth
Cracks are the hardest of these to self-assess, because a crack that hurts on release of biting pressure can be barely visible. Avoid chewing on that side and get it examined. A crack that is caught early can often be protected with a crown; one that extends into the root may not be savable, and treatment then becomes root canal treatment or extraction.
A lost filling or crown
Keep the crown if you have it. Avoid chewing on that side, keep the area clean, and call the practice. Exposed dentine is sensitive and the remaining tooth structure can chip if it is loaded.
Toothache and swelling
Swelling of the face or gum, particularly with fever or difficulty swallowing, is not something to monitor at home. Call the practice. Severe, spreading facial swelling that affects breathing or swallowing is a medical emergency and needs immediate emergency care, not a dental appointment.
Preventing dental injuries
Most avoidable dental trauma in children and adults comes from contact sport. A properly fitted mouthguard is worth having. Beyond that, the ordinary culprits are using teeth to open packaging, chewing ice, and untreated grinding weakening teeth over time.
Call the practice
Connecticut Family Dental Group is at 88 New Britain Avenue, Rocky Hill, open Monday through Thursday. Call (860) 756-5423 and describe what has happened — do not wait to see whether it settles.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if a tooth is knocked out?
Pick it up by the crown, never the root. Rinse it briefly in milk or saline without scrubbing, and either place it back in the socket or keep it in milk. Get to a dentist immediately, because the root surface cells do not survive long outside the socket.
Should I put a knocked-out tooth in water?
No. Water damages the cells on the root surface. Milk is the best storage medium if you cannot reinsert the tooth, and saliva is a second choice.
Should I reinsert a knocked-out baby tooth?
No. Reinserting a primary tooth can damage the developing adult tooth underneath it. Contact the dental practice for advice instead.
Is a chipped tooth an emergency?
It should be seen promptly even if it does not hurt. A chip can expose dentine, which causes sensitivity, and a sharp edge can injure the tongue or lip. Keep any fragment, as it can sometimes be bonded back.
When is dental swelling a medical emergency?
Facial swelling with fever, or any swelling that makes breathing or swallowing difficult, needs immediate emergency medical care rather than waiting for a dental appointment.
Book with Connecticut Family Dental Group
Connecticut Family Dental Group is at 88 New Britain Avenue, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Call (860) 756-5423 or request an appointment. The practice is open Monday through Thursday.
This article is general information for patients and is not a substitute for an examination or individual clinical advice. If something in your mouth is painful, swollen or changing, call the practice.