Pediatric Dental Trauma
What to Do in the Case of an Emergency
Trauma to the permanent teeth and baby teeth occurs in children. Our Southern Smiles Pediatric Dentistry team has the knowledge and experience to help guide you through what to do if trauma occurs.
After significant trauma like knocking out a tooth or fracturing the crown of a tooth, the child needs dental care as soon as possible. For the best outcome, the child should see the dentist within one hour of the incident.
First Aid for a
Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
How to Reinsert a Tooth
- Calm, quick, and decisive care is best.
- Wear medical gloves, if available.
- Position the child so that bleeding does not cause choking.
- Control any bleeding.
- Try to find the tooth.
- If you find the tooth, DO NOT handle it by its roots.
- If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it with water.
- Do not scrub or use antiseptic on the tooth.
- Reinsert the tooth if it is a permanent tooth.
- Do not reinsert a primary tooth.
- Gently place the tooth back into the socket in the correct position.
- Press down on the tooth with your thumb until the crown is level with the adjacent tooth.
- Have the child bite down on a wad of gauze or cloth to stabilize the tooth until arrival at the dentist.
If you cannot reinsert the tooth, see the options below:
How to Transport a Knocked-Out Tooth
For the best chance of survival for a tooth that has been knocked out, place the tooth back into the socket while waiting for dental care. If that is not possible, use one of the options below:
Milk Transport
- Option 1 (Best): Place the tooth in a small plastic bag with some milk. Put the plastic bag in a cup of ice.
- Option 2: Place the tooth in a cup of cold milk.
Saliva Transport
- Option 1 (Use only in children older than 12 years): Put the tooth inside the child's mouth. Caution the child to be careful not to swallow it.
- Option 2: Put the tooth in a cup. Keep the tooth moist with the child's saliva (spit).
Wet Cloth Transport
If milk and saliva are not available, wrap the tooth in a wet cloth.
*Note: If you cannot find a knocked-out tooth, it is still important to have the child see a dentist as soon as possible. The tooth, whether permanent or primary, might be knocked up into the gums.
Additional Resources
At Southern Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we are always focused on learning the latest techniques and emphasize continuing education to ensure that our patients get the best possible treatment options!
See the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guidelines for dental trauma:
Find the International Association of Dental Traumatology Dental Trauma Guidelines:
Read what your pediatrician has likely been taught about how to manage dental trauma: