A knocked-out tooth (dentists call it an avulsed tooth) is a true dental emergency. The first 30 minutes matter more than you might think: if you act quickly and correctly, there is a real chance your tooth can be re-implanted and saved.
Wait too long, or handle it wrong, and even the best dentist in Dubai cannot put it back.
Here is exactly what to do, step by step.
Step 1: Find the tooth
Pick it up by the crown only. The crown is the white part you normally see in your mouth. The root is the long, yellowish portion below.
Never touch the root. The root has delicate tissue that needs to survive for re-implantation to work. Touching it damages those cells.
Step 2: Gently rinse it (only if dirty)
If the tooth is dirty, rinse it briefly under cool tap water for no more than 10 seconds. Do not:
- Scrub it
- Use soap or toothpaste
- Wrap it in tissue (tissue fibers stick to the root)
- Let it dry out
Step 3: Try to put it back in the socket
If you can, gently push the tooth back into the socket it came from. Hold it in place by biting down on a clean cloth or gauze. This is the single best thing you can do for survival of the tooth.
Do not force it in if it does not slide easily. Move to step 4.
Step 4: If you cannot reinsert, store it correctly
The tooth must stay moist. Storage options, best to worst:
- Cold milk. The pH and chemistry of milk keep tooth cells alive for hours.
- Tooth preservation kit (Save-a-Tooth or Hanks solution). Sometimes kept in sports first-aid kits.
- Your saliva. Tuck the tooth between your cheek and gums (only if alert enough not to swallow it).
- Cold water. A last resort. Better than letting the tooth dry out.
Never store the tooth in tissue, paper, or alcohol. These kill the cells almost instantly.
Step 5: Call your dentist immediately
Time is critical. The chance of saving a knocked-out tooth drops sharply after 30 minutes and is very low after an hour.
In Dubai, Anytime Dental offers emergency appointments. Call us as soon as possible.
What happens at the dentist
If the tooth is still viable, your dentist will clean it, reinsert it into the socket, and stabilize it with a small splint to the neighboring teeth. The splint usually stays for 1 to 2 weeks.
A root canal is almost always needed afterward, because the blood supply to the tooth is broken when it comes out. The good news: with prompt action, the success rate is around 70 to 90%.
What if the tooth cannot be saved?
If too much time has passed, or the tooth is too damaged, your dentist will discuss replacement options:
- Dental implant. The gold standard. A titanium root with a crown that functions like a natural tooth.
- Dental bridge. A non-surgical option that uses neighboring teeth as anchors.
- Partial denture. A removable option, usually used short-term.
What about baby teeth?
If a child knocks out a baby tooth, do not reinsert it. Reinserting a baby tooth can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. Just call your dentist for advice.
Bottom line
Find the tooth, hold the crown only, keep it moist (milk is best), and get to a dentist within 30 minutes. That sequence saves more knocked-out teeth than anything else.
Save the Anytime Dental number in your phone right now: +971 55 791 6602. You will thank yourself later.
