Emergency Broken & Knocked-Out Tooth Care

Time is critical with knocked-out teeth. First, stay calm and find the tooth. Handle it by the crown (top part) only, never touch the roots. If it's dirty, gently rinse it with milk or saline solution - never use water or scrub it. Try to reinsert it into the socket if possible, or keep it moist in milk or saliva. Get to our emergency dental office within 30 minutes for the best chance of saving the tooth.

In most cases, yes! The treatment depends on the severity of the break. Minor chips can often be repaired with dental bonding. Larger breaks may require crowns or veneers. Even severely damaged teeth can sometimes be saved with root canal treatment followed by a crown. The key is getting treatment quickly to prevent infection and further damage.

For knocked-out teeth, you have about 30 minutes to 2 hours for the best chance of successful replantation. For broken teeth, while not as time-sensitive, you should still seek treatment within 24-48 hours to prevent infection and minimize pain. Even if you're not in severe pain, delaying treatment can lead to complications that make the tooth harder to save.

Don't worry if you can't find all the pieces. While having the fragments can sometimes help with the repair, we have many other treatment options available. We can rebuild the tooth with dental bonding, place a crown, or use other restorative techniques. The important thing is to get the remaining tooth structure treated promptly to prevent infection.

Yes, our goal is to restore both function and appearance. Modern dental techniques allow us to repair broken teeth so they look completely natural. Whether using dental bonding, crowns, or veneers, we match the color and shape to your surrounding teeth. Most patients are amazed at how natural their restored tooth looks after treatment.