Knocked or broken a tooth? What to do in the first hour.

First aid for a knocked-out adult tooth

• Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), never the root
• If it is dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or saline. Do not scrub or use soap
• If you can, gently place it back in the socket and bite on a clean cloth
• If not, keep it in milk or inside your cheek. Do not store it in water
• Call us and come in immediately. Do not try to replant a baby tooth

What happens, step by step

1. Assess

   We check the tooth, the bone and the neighbouring teeth, with X-rays.

2. Stabilise

   A replanted or loosened tooth is held in place with a flexible splint.

3. Monitor

   Injured teeth can lose their nerve weeks later, so we review you over time.

4. Restore

   Chipped teeth are rebuilt, and root canal treatment is done if the nerve is lost.

Why follow-up matters

A tooth that looks fine after an injury can still have a damaged nerve. Reviewing it at set intervals lets us treat any trouble early, often before it hurts.

For children, we advise on the right steps for developing teeth. Please call us rather than waiting.

Questions patients ask