What to do if you lose a tooth:

Seek immediate help from an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. Most knocked-out teeth can be saved if cared for properly and reimplanted within 40 to 60 minutes. Call your family dentist for an emergency referral or go to a hospital emergency department where the on call Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon can assist you.

When the tooth is found, handle it by the crown only. Do not rub the tooth to remove the dirt.

Gently rinse the tooth in tap water to remove the dirt…do not scrub the tooth or attempt to physically remove the dirt by touching the tooth.

Try to replace the tooth in the socket and bite down on gauze or a moist tea bag to hold the tooth in place.

If the tooth cannot be placed into the socket safely, quickly place the tooth in a cup of warm mild salt water, the patient’s saliva, or milk. In a responsible adult, the tooth can be placed under the tongue or in the cheek area until the care of a dental professional is obtained.

Contact a dentist.

Portions of the above information provided as a courtesy by:

American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
9700 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue
Rosemont, Illinois 60018-5701
847/678-6200 Fax: 847/678-6286
Website: www.aaoms.org