Fractured, Loosened, or Knocked-Out Teeth

The upper front teeth are prone to injury and fracture. A person who has brief, sharp pain while chewing or while eating something cold may have an incomplete fracture of a tooth somewhere in the mouth. As long as the tooth is only cracked and a piece has not split off, the dentist can often correct the problem with a simple filling. More extensive fractures may require a crown, with or without root canal treatment.

If a tooth is not sensitive to cold air or water after an injury, most likely only the hard outer surface (enamel) has been damaged. Even if the enamel has been slightly chipped, immediate treatment is not required. Fractures of the intermediate layer of the tooth (dentin) are usually painful when exposed to air and/or food, so people with such fractures seek dental care quickly. If the fracture affects the innermost part of the tooth (pulp), a red spot and often some blood will appear in the fracture. Root canal treatment may be needed to remove the remaining injured pulp before it causes severe pain.

Layers of the Tooth

If an injury loosens a tooth in the socket or if the surrounding gum tissue bleeds a great deal, a person should see a dentist immediately, because the root or socket may be fractured. A loosened tooth that is repositioned and stabilized quickly usually stays in place permanently. Seriously loosened baby (deciduous) teeth in the front of the mouth are often removed to prevent harm to existing permanent teeth.

People who have knocked-out baby or permanent teeth should be taken immediately to the nearest dentist. Knocked-out baby teeth should not be reimplanted because they may become infected and reimplanting these teeth may interfere with the eruption of the permanent teeth. However, a knocked-out permanent tooth requires immediate treatment.

If possible, the permanent tooth should immediately be placed back in its socket (without touching the roots). The tooth may be gently rinsed under cold water for 10 seconds but should not be scrubbed, because scrubbing can remove the tissue on the root that is needed to help reattach the tooth. If the person cannot replace the tooth in its socket, the tooth should be wrapped in a moistened paper towel or, better, placed in a glass of milk for transport to the dentist. (The milk provides a good environment to nourish the tooth.) Alternatively, if the person is conscious and not likely to inhale or swallow the tooth, the tooth can be placed in the mouth during transport to a dental office.

If the knocked-out tooth cannot be found, it may have been inhaled into the lungs (aspirated) or accidentally swallowed. A chest x-ray may be done to look for a tooth in the lungs, but a swallowed tooth is harmless, and x-rays are often not done to look for a tooth in the digestive tract. People with knocked-out teeth that are being reimplanted usually take an antibiotic for several days. If the tooth came in contact with dirt, the doctor will usually evaluate the person's tetanus immunization status as well.

If a knocked-out permanent tooth is reimplanted within 30 minutes to 1 hour, the likelihood that it will reattach within the socket is good. After 30 minutes, the longer the tooth is out of the socket, the worse the chance for long-term success. The dentist usually splints the tooth to the surrounding teeth for 7 to 10 days. If the bone around the tooth also has been fractured, the tooth may have to be splinted for 6 to 10 weeks. Reimplanted teeth eventually need root canal treatment.