That heart-stopping moment when your child runs to you with blood on their face and a tooth in their hand is something no parent is truly prepared for. 

Dental emergencies like knocked-out teeth happen more frequently than many realize. In fact, more than 5 million teeth are accidentally knocked out each year in both children and adults. While seeing your child's missing tooth can trigger immediate panic, staying calm and taking proper action within the first 30 minutes will significantly increase the chances of saving that tooth. 

Continue reading to get clear instructions from the top emergency dentist in Hillsborough on what to do during this stressful situation. 

What to do if Your Child Knocks Out a Tooth

The sudden shock of seeing your child with a missing tooth requires both quick thinking and careful action. While this situation feels overwhelming in the moment, knowing exactly what steps to take can make the difference between saving or losing a permanent tooth:

1. Determine if the Tooth is a Baby Tooth or a Permanent Tooth

Your first step is to identify whether the knocked-out tooth is a baby tooth or a permanent one, as this completely changes your course of action. Baby teeth are generally not re-implanted since doing so could potentially damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. If your child has lost a baby tooth earlier than expected, a dentist may recommend a space maintainer to prevent neighboring teeth from shifting, but an emergency trip to the dentist isn't typically necessary. Simply make an appointment with the dentist at their next available appointment. 

However, if the lost tooth is a permanent one, quick action becomes essential. Permanent teeth should be carefully handled and, when possible, re-implanted within 30 minutes to maximize the chances of successful reattachment. When in doubt about whether a tooth is a baby or adult tooth, act as if the tooth is an adult tooth and follow the following steps for proper handling. 

2. Handle the Tooth Properly

If your child has lost a permanent tooth, finding the tooth and properly handling it becomes your immediate priority. 

  • First, locate the tooth quickly, and when handling it, always grasp it by the crown rather than the root. The root contains delicate fibers crucial for reattachment, and touching them can cause irreversible damage that prevents the tooth from successfully reimplanting. 
  • Don't scrub the tooth or use soap, chemicals, or toothpaste, even if it's dirty. If necessary, gently rinse it with milk.

Throughout this process, handle the tooth minimally and with extreme care. Proper preservation in these first moments significantly impacts whether the tooth can be saved, potentially avoiding more extensive oral surgery or costly dental implant restoration procedures in the future. 

3. Re-insert the Tooth in Its Socket if Possible

For a permanent tooth, attempting immediate reimplantation gives your child the best chance of saving it: 

  • After gently cleaning the tooth with milk, carefully examine both it and the socket to understand the correct orientation. The tooth should fit naturally with the smooth, flat side facing forward. 
  • Gently slide the tooth back into its socket without forcing it, aligning it with neighboring teeth. If reinsertion meets resistance, never push harder; instead, move to the preservation steps described below. 
  • If successfully reinserted, have your child bite down gently on a clean piece of gauze, a damp tea bag, or a paper towel moistened with milk to stabilize the tooth in its proper position. This pressure helps control bleeding while keeping the tooth in place until you reach a dentist. 

Even with successful reimplantation, immediate dental care remains important, as the tooth will need professional evaluation and likely stabilization with a splint to promote proper healing. 

4. Preserve the Tooth if Re-Insertion Isn't Possible

If you cannot easily reinsert the permanent tooth, whether due to excessive bleeding, pain, or uncertainty about proper positioning, preserving it properly becomes your top priority. 

  • Immediately place the tooth in a small container of cold milk, which provides ideal nutrients and pH balance to keep the root cells alive. If milk isn't available, alternatives include placing it in your child's saliva. Have them spit into a clean container. You can also use an emergency tooth preservation kit if you have one in your first aid kit, or wrap it in plastic wrap to prevent drying. 
  • Never store the tooth in regular water, as this causes root cells to swell and burst. Additionally, avoid using tissue paper, which wicks away essential moisture. 
  • Time is of the essence, with reimplantation success rates decreasing with each passing minute. Keep the preservation container cool and head directly to a dentist or emergency department, bringing both your child and the preserved tooth.

5. Seek Immediate Dental Attention

The moment a permanent tooth gets knocked out, you're racing against the clock for a successful reimplantation. Head to the closest emergency dentist and call ahead if you’re able to. This will ensure they’re ready to treat your child as soon as you walk through the door. Even if significant time has passed, still bring the tooth—modern dental techniques sometimes allow for successful treatment even after extended periods.

Where to Find the Best Emergency Dentist in Hillsborough

A swift and calm response to a knocked-out tooth can significantly impact the tooth's survival and your child's oral health. If you’re in the Hillsborough area and need an emergency dentist, Promenade Smiles is ready to help.

Our premier dental team understands that dental emergencies rarely respect business hours, which is why we offer flexible scheduling with extended availability specifically for urgent cases. Unlike many practices that might defer emergency patients to the next available slot days later, we always reserve time to accommodate same-day emergency appointments, understanding that minutes matter in dental trauma. 

When considering the best dentist in Hillsborough Township, our comprehensive approach means you won't need to be referred elsewhere during your most vulnerable moment. 

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