Dental Symptoms · Emergency Care

Knocked-Out Tooth? What to Do in the Next 30 Minutes

A knocked-out permanent tooth is a true dental emergency, and acting fast gives the best chance of saving it. Here is exactly what to do. Two Overland Park and Olathe offices, open seven days a week.

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What Should I Do If a Tooth Is Knocked Out?

A knocked-out adult tooth can often be saved if you act within the first hour. Stay calm and follow these steps.

  1. 1

    Pick It Up by the Crown

    Hold the tooth by the white crown only. Never touch the root, and do not scrub it.

  2. 2

    Rinse It Gently

    If the tooth is dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or saline. Do not remove any attached tissue.

  3. 3

    Reinsert or Store It

    Place it back in the socket if you can, or keep it in a cup of milk or tucked inside the cheek.

  4. 4

    Get to Us Fast

    See a dentist within 30 to 60 minutes. The sooner the tooth is back in place, the better the odds.

Top rated restorative dentistry in Overland Park and Olathe, Kansas at Albert Dental

These steps are for a permanent adult tooth. A knocked-out baby tooth should not be put back, but still call us right away.

Albert Dental, dentist serving Overland Park and Olathe, Kansas

What Causes a Tooth to Get Knocked Out?

A tooth is knocked out when a force breaks it free from the socket. The most common causes are:

Sports Injuries

Contact sports like basketball, football, and hockey are a leading cause of knocked-out teeth.

Falls

A hard fall, especially in children and older adults, can knock a tooth completely out.

Accidents and Collisions

Car, bike, and other accidents that strike the mouth can force a tooth from its socket.

A Blow to the Face

A direct blow to the mouth from an elbow, ball, or fall can knock a tooth loose or out.

Sources: American Association of Endodontists, Cleveland Clinic

Preventive dental care and dental sealants at Albert Dental in Overland Park and Olathe, Kansas

Can You Prevent a Knocked-Out Tooth?

You cannot prevent every accident, but you can lower the risk. Wear a mouthguard for contact sports, use a seatbelt, childproof your home to prevent falls, and treat any loose teeth early. If a tooth is knocked out, acting within the first hour gives the best chance of saving it.

The Best Way to Protect Your Teeth

A custom-fitted sports mouthguard absorbs impact far better than a store-bought one and protects your teeth on the field, the court, or the trail. It is the simplest way to prevent a knocked-out tooth.

Explore Custom Mouthguards →
When to Worry

Is a Knocked-Out Tooth an Emergency?

A knocked-out adult tooth is always an emergency. See a dentist within 30 to 60 minutes for the best chance of saving it.

A Knocked-Out Adult Tooth

See Us Within the Hour
  • →Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root
  • →Keep it moist in milk or saliva
  • →Reinsert it into the socket if you can
  • →Get to a dentist within 30 to 60 minutes

A Knocked-Out Baby Tooth

Call Us, Do Not Reinsert
  • →Do not try to put a baby tooth back in
  • →Reinserting it can damage the adult tooth below
  • →Save the tooth and call us right away
  • →We will check the area and the incoming tooth
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Every Minute Counts

If you are not sure how serious the injury is, call us and we will help you decide over the phone. We can often see you the same day.

Your Options

How Do Dentists Treat a Knocked-Out Tooth?

The right treatment depends on the tooth and how quickly it is seen. We always recommend the simplest option that lasts.

Dental implants to replace a knocked-out tooth at Albert Dental in Overland Park and Olathe, KS

Dental Implants

When a tooth cannot be saved, a dental implant replaces it with a natural-looking, permanent tooth.

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Custom dental crowns and bridges at Albert Dental in Overland Park and Olathe, KS

Crowns & Bridges

A dental bridge fills the gap by anchoring a replacement tooth to the healthy teeth beside it.

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Root canal endodontic therapy at Albert Dental in Overland Park and Olathe, KS

Root Canals

A tooth that is put back in place often needs a root canal so it can heal and stay in place.

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Emergency dentist treating a patient with tooth pain in Overland Park and Olathe KS

Emergency Dental Care

Same-day care for toothaches and broken teeth, open every day of the week including weekends.

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Explore All Restorative Options →
Why Albert Dental

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth in Overland Park & Olathe

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Same-Day Repairs

We hold emergency time for knocked-out teeth and see them right away when you call.

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Open Seven Days a Week

A knocked-out tooth does not wait for Monday, and neither do we, including weekends.

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Natural, Invisible Results

Bonding and veneers are matched to your other teeth so the repair blends in.

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Two Convenient Offices

Overland Park and Olathe, so relief is always close to home.

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Trusted by Our Community

Over 35,000 patients served, award winning, and among the highest rated dentists across Johnson County.

OUR LOCATIONS

Find a Location Closest to You

OVERLAND PARK  ·  135TH & QUIVIRA

Your South Overland Park Dentist

Our Overland Park office sits at 135th Street and Quivira, steps from Quivira Crossings and McKeever’s Price Chopper. We are the everyday dentist for families across south Overland Park, from Nottingham and St. Andrews to the homes around Bentwood Park, inside the Blue Valley School District. Open every day including Saturdays and Sundays.

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Albert Dental, Overland Park

11504 W 135th St, Overland Park, KS 66221

Albert Dental, Olathe

11995 S Black Bob Rd, Olathe, KS 66062

OLATHE  ·  119TH & BLACK BOB

Your Olathe Dentist at Olathe Pointe

Our Olathe office is inside Olathe Pointe at 119th Street and Black Bob Road, anchored by Whole Foods and directly across from the Target at Olathe Station. The convenient choice for families near Black Bob Park, the Brougham Drive neighborhoods, and Black Bob Elementary in the Olathe School District. Open every day including Saturdays and Sundays.

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Common Questions

Knocked-Out Tooth Questions, Answered

What do I do if my tooth gets knocked out?▾
Pick it up by the crown, not the root. If dirty, rinse briefly with milk or saline without scrubbing. Try to place it back in the socket, or keep it in milk or inside your cheek. Then get to a dentist within 30 to 60 minutes. The faster a permanent tooth is reimplanted, the better the chance of saving it. Albert Dental handles dental emergencies including knocked-out teeth at both its Overland Park and Olathe offices.
How long do I have to save a knocked-out tooth?▾
The first 30 to 60 minutes matter most. A permanent tooth kept moist and reimplanted within an hour has the best chance of surviving. After a couple of hours out of the socket the odds drop sharply, so treat it as an emergency and call us or head in right away. The team at Albert Dental can help, with appointments seven days a week in Overland Park and Olathe.
Can a knocked-out tooth be put back in?▾
Often yes, if it is a permanent tooth and you act quickly. Reinserting it into the socket right away, or keeping it moist in milk until a dentist can, gives the best result. The dentist will splint it to the neighboring teeth so it can reattach. Baby teeth, however, should not be put back. To get seen, call Albert Dental in Overland Park at (913) 948-9488 or Olathe at (913) 247-1315.
Should I put a knocked-out tooth in milk?▾
Yes, milk is one of the best storage options if you cannot reinsert the tooth. It keeps the root cells alive far better than water, which can damage them. Saliva, by holding the tooth inside your cheek, or a tooth-preservation kit also work. Avoid water and do not let the tooth dry out. Albert Dental handles dental emergencies including knocked-out teeth at both its Overland Park and Olathe offices.
What should I do if my child knocks out a baby tooth?▾
Do not try to put a baby tooth back in, since reinserting it can damage the developing adult tooth underneath. Control any bleeding with gentle pressure, save the tooth, and call us. We will check the area and the incoming permanent tooth to make sure everything is healing well. The team at Albert Dental can help, with appointments seven days a week in Overland Park and Olathe.
How should I pick up a knocked-out tooth?▾
Hold it by the white crown, the part you normally see, never by the root. Touching or scrubbing the root damages the delicate cells needed for it to reattach. If it is dirty, rinse it gently with milk or saline for a few seconds only, then reinsert or store it in milk. To get seen, call Albert Dental in Overland Park at (913) 948-9488 or Olathe at (913) 247-1315.
Can a dentist save a knocked-out tooth?▾
In many cases yes, especially when a permanent tooth is reimplanted within the first hour and kept moist. The dentist repositions the tooth, splints it to the teeth beside it, and monitors healing. Success depends on how quickly you act and how the tooth was stored, so fast action makes a real difference. Albert Dental handles dental emergencies including knocked-out teeth at both its Overland Park and Olathe offices.
Does a reimplanted tooth need a root canal?▾
Usually yes. A tooth that has been knocked out loses its blood supply, so the nerve inside typically does not recover. A root canal, often done a week or two after the tooth is splinted back in place, removes the dead nerve and helps the tooth stay healthy and functional for years. The team at Albert Dental can help, with appointments seven days a week in Overland Park and Olathe.
What are my options if the tooth cannot be saved?▾
If a knocked-out tooth cannot be reimplanted, the main replacement options are a dental implant, a dental bridge, or a partial denture. An implant is the closest match to a natural tooth. We will talk through what fits your situation, timeline, and budget so the gap is restored well. To get seen, call Albert Dental in Overland Park at (913) 948-9488 or Olathe at (913) 247-1315.
Is a knocked-out tooth always an emergency?▾
A knocked-out permanent tooth is always a true emergency because the window to save it is short. A knocked-out baby tooth is less urgent to replace but should still be looked at soon. Either way, call us right away so we can guide you and see you as quickly as possible. To get seen, call Albert Dental in Overland Park at (913) 948-9488 or Olathe at (913) 247-1315.
What if my tooth is loose but not knocked out?▾
A tooth that is loosened or pushed out of position from an injury is also urgent. Do not wiggle it, avoid biting on it, and call us right away. Repositioning and splinting a loosened tooth soon after the injury gives it the best chance to tighten back up and heal. The team at Albert Dental can help, with appointments seven days a week in Overland Park and Olathe.
Can I go to the ER for a knocked-out tooth?▾
An emergency room can help with serious facial injuries, heavy bleeding, or a possible head injury, but they usually cannot reimplant a tooth. For the tooth itself, a dentist is the right choice. Call us right away, since we see dental emergencies seven days a week in Overland Park and Olathe. To get seen, call Albert Dental in Overland Park at (913) 948-9488 or Olathe at (913) 247-1315.