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Check everything, not just the obvious tooth
The dentist examines the lips, tongue, gums and every tooth near the impact, then takes X-rays to find root fractures, jaw fractures and teeth pushed into the bone.
Same-day dentists available
Dental Trauma After an Accident: Broken, Loose or Knocked-Out Teeth and What To Do First
Falls, sports, bike crashes and fights are the usual culprits. The injury can be anything from a chipped corner to a tooth driven up into the bone. The first hour matters most, and knowing what to do in it can save the tooth.
1-855-219-4656 Is a dental injury from an accident an emergency?
Yes. Any tooth that is loose, pushed out of position, knocked out or broken with the pink nerve showing should be seen within hours. Call 1-855-219-4656 and describe what happened, and a same-day dentist will be ready for you. Go to the emergency room first if you lost consciousness, have a head or neck injury, cannot stop the bleeding, have trouble breathing or swallowing, or your jaw will not close properly. The dental repair can follow once you are medically clear.
Accidents that involve the mouth are frightening, and there is usually blood, which makes them look worse than they are. Teeth are surprisingly forgiving if they are handled correctly in the first hour. Bring every fragment, come as soon as you are medically safe to travel, and let the dentist decide what can be saved.
Injuries that need same-day care
- A tooth that wobbles or feels higher, lower or twisted compared to its neighbors
- A tooth knocked out entirely, which has the best chance if replanted within 30 to 60 minutes
- A break with a red or pink spot in the middle, meaning the nerve is exposed
- A tooth pushed up into the gum so it looks shorter than before
- Cuts to the lip, tongue or gum that gape open or keep bleeding
- Pain when biting or a bite that suddenly feels different
A tooth that looks fine can still be injured. A hard blow can damage the nerve or crack the root with no visible sign, and the tooth may darken or abscess weeks later. Any tooth that took a direct hit should be X-rayed, even if nothing looks wrong.
What to do tonight, before you are seen
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Pick up a knocked-out tooth by the crown, rinse it briefly in milk or saline, and try to place it back in the socket | Do not scrub the root, wrap the tooth in tissue or let it dry out |
| If replanting is not possible, keep the tooth in milk or tucked inside your cheek and get to a dentist fast | Do not store it in tap water. Water damages the root cells |
| Bite on gauze or a clean cloth to control bleeding and hold a loose tooth still | Do not wiggle a loose tooth or try to straighten a displaced one with your fingers |
| Save any broken fragments in milk. They can sometimes be bonded back on | Do not eat, chew or play on until you have been examined |
What the dentist does after an injury
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Reposition and stabilize
Loose or displaced teeth are moved back into position and splinted to the neighbors with a thin wire and bonding for a couple of weeks. Cuts are cleaned and stitched. Broken teeth get bonding or a temporary crown.
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Protect the nerve
Teeth with exposed or damaged nerves may need a root canal, sometimes at a later visit once the outcome is clearer. Follow-up X-rays over the next year make sure the roots are healing.
Cost of emergency dental trauma care
| Treatment | Without insurance |
|---|---|
| Emergency exam + X-rays | $100–$250 |
| Composite bonding of a chipped tooth | $150–$500 |
| Temporary crown or filling | $90–$300 |
| Root canal if the nerve is damaged | $700–$1,500 |
| Permanent crown on a badly broken tooth | $800–$2,000 |
Estimates from partner clinic fee schedules. Your dentist quotes the exact fee before treatment. See the emergency dental cost guide and the no-insurance guide.
Treatments and related guides
Treatments a dentist may use: Broken tooth repair, Emergency root canal, Pediatric emergency dentist.
Dental Trauma FAQ
Need help right now? Call 1-855-219-4656, free, 24 hours a day.
Is a dental injury an emergency?
Yes if a tooth is loose, moved, knocked out, or broken with the nerve showing. The sooner a displaced or lost tooth is put back, the more likely it survives. Chips with no sensitivity are less urgent but should still be seen within a few days.
What should I do with a knocked-out tooth?
Hold it by the white crown, never the root. Rinse it gently in milk or saline for a few seconds, then push it back into the socket and bite on a cloth to hold it. If that is not possible, keep it in milk and get to a dentist within an hour.
My tooth is loose but still in place. Will it tighten up?
Often yes, if it is splinted quickly and left alone. The ligament around the root can reattach over two to four weeks. Wiggling it or chewing on it during that time breaks the healing fibers.
Should I go to the ER or a dentist after a mouth injury?
ER first for any loss of consciousness, head or neck pain, uncontrolled bleeding, breathing or swallowing problems, or a jaw that does not close. Most ERs do not have dental equipment, so once you are cleared, see an emergency dentist for the teeth.
My child hit their front tooth. Does it matter if it is a baby tooth?
Yes. Baby teeth are not replanted if knocked out, but a loose or pushed-in baby tooth can damage the adult tooth forming beneath it. An emergency dentist who treats children should check it the same day.
Medically reviewed by Dr. FULL NAME, DDS. Last reviewed . Sources: Mayo Clinic, Broken or knocked-out tooth, ADA MouthHealthy, Dental Emergencies. Editorial policy.
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