The medical term for a knocked out tooth is "avulsed."
A permanent tooth that is knocked out can sometimes be reimplanted. In most cases, only permanent, adult teeth are reimplanted into the mouth.
Baby teeth are usually left out.
Tooth accidents are commonly caused by:
Save any tooth that has been knocked out. Bring it to your dentist as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the less chance there is your dentist to fix it. Hold the tooth only by the crown (chewing edge).
You can take the tooth to the dentist by following one of these tips:
Also follow these steps:
If your tooth is badly broken, your nerve endings may be exposed. You will need immediate dental help to avoid infection and pain.
You may not need an emergency visit for a simple chip or broken tooth. You should still have it fixed to avoid sharp edges that can cut the lips or tongue.
If you cannot close your upper and lower teeth together, your jaw may be broken. This requires immediate medical help at a dentist or hospital.
Teeth - broken; Tooth - knocked out
Roberts JR, Hedges JR, eds. Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders; 2004.
Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2002.
Updated by: Paul Fotek, DMD, Florida Institute for Periodontics & Dental lmplants, West Palm Beach, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, M.D., MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.
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