Every 5 minutes, somewhere in America, someone suffers a knocked-out tooth. Whether it’s a sports injury on the field at Clover Park Technical College, a skateboarding accident at Fort Steilacoom Park, a car accident on I-5, or a fall at home, tooth avulsion is a critical dental emergency that requires immediate action.
Here’s what most people don’t know: A knocked-out permanent tooth can often be saved and successfully reimplanted but only if you act fast and follow the right steps. You have a 30-60 minute window to dramatically increase the odds of saving your natural tooth. After that, success rates plummet.
As emergency dentists serving Lakewood, Parkland, Spanaway, and the JBLM community for over 10 years, we’ve reimplanted hundreds of knocked-out teeth. We’ve seen patients who followed our protocol and saved their teeth, and unfortunately, we’ve seen those who waited too long or handled the tooth incorrectly and lost them forever.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through exactly what to do in those critical first minutes after a tooth is knocked out, what NOT to do (these mistakes are common and costly), and why getting to our Bridgeport Way office immediately gives you the best chance of keeping your natural smile.”
“The First 60 Seconds: Critical Actions”
IMMEDIATELY DO THIS:
Step 1: Find the Tooth (0-10 seconds)
- Locate the tooth as quickly as possible
- Time is the enemy every second counts
- Check the ground, clothing, mouth area
- If in sports, pause the game and look carefully
Step 2: Pick It Up CORRECTLY (10-20 seconds)
NEVER touch the root (the pointy part)
ALWAYS hold it by the crown (the white part you see in your mouth)- The root surface has delicate cells that are essential for reattachment
- Even touching the root can kill these cells
Step 3: Assess the Tooth (20-30 seconds)
- Is it dirty? Covered in grass, dirt, or debris?
- Is the root intact or damaged?
- Is there tissue still attached? (Don’t remove it!)
Step 4: Rinse GENTLY if Needed (30-45 seconds)
- Only if visibly dirty
- Use milk, saline solution, or clean water
- Hold by the crown
- Let liquid flow over tooth DON’T scrub or rub
- Rinse for no more than 10 seconds
Step 5: Try Reinsertion OR Store Properly (45-60 seconds)
- Best option: Put tooth back in socket immediately
- If not possible: Store in proper medium (explained below)
“Reinsertion: The Gold Standard (If You Can Do It)”
How to Reinsert a Knocked-Out Tooth:
- Make sure it’s oriented correctly (curved side faces out toward lips)
- Gently push it back into the socket
- Have the patient bite down gently on clean cloth or gauze
- Hold in place with light pressure
- Get to our office IMMEDIATELY even with tooth reinserted, you need professional care
Success Rates:
- Reinserted within 5 minutes: 90% success rate
- Properly stored and treated within 30 minutes: 70% success rate
- Treated within 60 minutes: 50% success rate
- After 2 hours: Success rates drop dramatically
Why Reinsertion Works: “The periodontal ligament cells on the root surface can reattach to the bone if the tooth is replaced quickly. These cells begin dying within minutes, which is why speed is absolutely essential.”
“If You Can’t Reinsert: Proper Storage Methods”
Best Storage Solutions (in order of preference):
1. Milk (BEST readily available option)
- Whole milk is ideal
- 2% milk works too
- The proteins and pH help preserve root cells
- Can keep tooth viable for 1-2 hours
2. Your Saliva
- Place tooth between cheek and gums
- Keep it moist with saliva
Risk: Child might swallow it- Risk: Further damage if bitten
3. Saline Solution
- Contact lens solution works
- Sterile saline from first aid kit
- Preserves cells effectively
4. Tooth Preservation Kit
- Products like Save-A-Tooth or EMT Tooth Saver
- Available at many pharmacies
- Contains special solution for maximum cell survival
- Best option if available
NEVER Use:
- Tap water (kills cells quickly)
- Ice (too cold, damages cells)
- Alcohol or hydrogen peroxide (destroys cells)
- Dry storage (napkin, plastic bag, pocket)
- Mouthwash (too harsh)
“Getting to Emergency Dental Services in Lakewood FAST”
Our Address: Emergency Dental Services of Washington 9873 Bridgeport Way SW, Lakewood
From JBLM: Take I-5 North to Exit 124, turn right on Bridgeport Way—10 minutes
From Parkland: Head west on Pacific Avenue to Bridgeport Way—8 minutes
From Spanaway: Take Pacific Avenue north to Bridgeport Way—15 minutes
From Tacoma: I-5 South to Exit 125, turn left on Bridgeport Way—12 minutes
CALL AHEAD: +1 206 853 3458 Call us while en route so we can prepare for your arrival. Tell us:
- Patient’s age
- When the tooth was knocked out
- How the tooth is being stored
- Your estimated arrival time”
“What Happens at Our Office: The Reimplantation Process”
Immediate Assessment (5-10 minutes):
- Examination of the socket
- Evaluation of the tooth condition
- X-rays to check for other damage
- Cleaning of tooth and socket
Reimplantation Procedure (20-30 minutes):
- Local anesthesia for comfort
- Gentle placement of tooth back in socket
- Splinting to adjacent teeth with special wire or composite material
- Instructions for care during healing
Follow-Up Care:
- Splint stays in place 7-14 days
- Antibiotics prescribed to prevent infection
- Soft diet for 1-2 weeks
- Root canal therapy typically needed within 1-2 weeks
- Multiple follow-up appointments to monitor healing
Success Indicators:
- Tooth becomes stable in socket
- No signs of infection
- Tooth responsive to stimulation
- X-rays show proper healing
“Special Considerations”
For Children:
- Baby teeth are NOT reimplanted (can damage developing permanent tooth)
- Permanent teeth in children are treated same as adults
- If unsure if it’s a baby tooth or permanent tooth, bring it we’ll determine
For Athletes:
- Wear a mouthguard to prevent avulsion
- Custom mouthguards offer best protection
- Have our number saved in phone
- Keep tooth preservation kit in sports bag
For Multiple Teeth:
- Store all teeth properly
- We can reimplant multiple teeth
- Success depends on condition of each tooth
“Prevention: Protecting Your Teeth from Avulsion”
High-Risk Activities:
- Contact sports (football, hockey, boxing, martial arts)
- Basketball, baseball, soccer
- Skateboarding, rollerblading, biking
- Playgrounds and trampolines
Prevention Strategies:
- Wear properly fitted mouthguard
- Use protective headgear in high-risk sports
- Supervise children during play
- Wear seatbelts in vehicles
- Address dental issues that weaken teeth
Mouthguard Options:
- Custom-fitted (best protection we can make these)
- Boil-and-bite (moderate protection)
- Stock mouthguards (minimal protection)
Conclusion: “A knocked-out tooth is one of the most time-sensitive dental emergencies you’ll ever face. Remember this simple protocol: Find it, handle it by the crown only, rinse gently if needed, reinsert if possible or store in milk, and GET TO OUR LAKEWOOD OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.
Every minute matters. Every action counts. Follow this guide, act fast, and call us right away at +1 206 853 3458. We’re open seven days a week, 9 AM to 9 PM, ready to give your tooth the best chance of survival.
Don’t let a moment of trauma cost you a lifetime without your natural tooth. Save our number now before you need it.”
“Tooth knocked out RIGHT NOW? Call +1 206 853 3458 immediately and start driving to our Bridgeport Way office. We’re ready for you.”