Go straight to a dentist for an adult tooth that has come out, or a tooth pushed up into the gum or sideways. Call on the way — not every practice handles trauma.
Find an emergency dentist →Emergency guide
A tooth has been knocked out. What now?
An adult tooth can often be saved, but the clock matters: reimplantation works best inside 30–60 minutes. Handle it by the crown, never the root, and keep it wet on the way to the dentist.
Act within 30 minutes
Step by step
Do this now
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Pick it up by the crown
Hold the tooth by the white part you chew with. Touching the root damages the fibres that let it reattach.
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Rinse it gently — for 10 seconds only
Use saline or milk if you have it, tap water only briefly. Do not scrub, and do not let it dry out.
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Try to put it back
If it is an adult tooth and the socket is intact, push it back in gently and bite on a clean cloth to hold it. If it will not sit straight, stop.
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Keep it wet if it will not go back
Store it in milk, saline, or inside your cheek between the gum and lip. Water is the last resort — it swells the root and shortens the tooth's chances.
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Call an emergency dentist immediately
Say it is an avulsed tooth. Most practices will see you the same hour. A dentist splints the tooth to its neighbours for one to two weeks.
Avoid
What not to do
- Scrubbing or handling the root
- Wrapping the tooth in tissue, which dries it out
- Storing it in water for more than a few minutes
- Reinserting a baby tooth — it can damage the adult tooth underneath
- Waiting for the pain to start; an avulsed tooth often does not hurt much
Where to go
Dentist or emergency room?
Go to an emergency room first if there is a broken jaw, a head injury, heavy bleeding that will not stop with pressure, or trouble breathing or swallowing.
What it costs
Treatment and price ranges
National benchmarks adjusted for Wisconsin, not quotes from a specific clinic. Ask for a written estimate before treatment starts.
Near you
Emergency dentists by city
Each city page lists verified dentists with phone numbers and hours, with the clinics that list emergency care shown first. Call before you travel — hours change.
Knocked-out tooth — questions people ask
How long do I have to save the tooth?
Under 60 minutes gives the best chance. Reimplantation after two hours is sometimes still attempted, but the long-term success rate drops sharply.
Milk or saliva — which is better?
Both work. Milk is the standard first choice because it is close to the tooth's own environment. Saliva, held in the cheek, is the next best option when milk is not available.
Does it hurt?
Often not at first — the nerve is stunned. That is why people delay, and why the tooth is lost. Treat it as urgent even without pain.
What if it is a baby tooth?
Do not reinsert it. A reimplanted baby tooth can fuse to the bone or damage the developing adult tooth. Call a dentist to check the socket and the adult tooth underneath.
Will the tooth last?
A reimplanted tooth usually needs a root canal within two weeks, and many are lost within five to ten years. It is still worth trying — a natural tooth buys time and bone.