Dental injury after an impact: find the right next step
A fall, sporting knock or accident can chip, loosen or dislodge a tooth. Start by checking what changed, then follow the guide for that injury. A tooth can need assessment even if it does not hurt immediately.
First, check the tooth, bite and bleeding
Dental trauma can affect a tooth, its supporting tissues, the lips or the jaw. Look for a missing piece, a tooth that has moved, a bite that no longer fits, or bleeding that does not settle with gentle pressure. Call a dentist promptly for an injured tooth.
A knocked-out permanent tooth is time-critical. Hold it by the crown. If clean and safe, gently put it back in the socket and bite on clean cloth. Otherwise keep it in milk or sterile saline and call a dentist immediately. Never replant a baby tooth. Follow the specific guide below.
Which injury happened?
Chipped, cracked or broken tooth
Save any fragment in milk or sterile saline and avoid chewing on that tooth. A visible chip can be more than a cosmetic concern.
Knocked-out or displaced tooth
Act promptly. The next steps differ for a permanent tooth and a baby tooth. Do not force a displaced tooth back into place.
Loose tooth or changed bite
A tooth that moves or meets differently after impact may have an injury to its supporting tissues. Avoid testing it repeatedly and call for assessment.
Cut lip, gum or cheek
Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze or cloth. A mouth injury can involve both soft tissue and teeth, so check for a missing fragment or a changed bite.
When to call a dentist, and when to seek hospital care
Dental assessment
Call for a tooth that is cracked, loose, pushed out of place or knocked out, or for pain after an impact. EasyCare can explain the earliest suitable dental injury assessment. The emergency page covers appointments and fees.
Emergency department or 000
Seek urgent medical help for trouble breathing, swallowing or talking, heavy bleeding, major swelling, possible jaw fracture, or concerning head-injury symptoms such as confusion or loss of consciousness.
What to tell the dentist after an injury
Note when and how the impact happened, whether the tooth is a baby tooth or permanent tooth, and whether your bite, tooth position or feeling has changed. Bring any tooth or fragment in milk or sterile saline. Mention a head injury or ongoing bleeding when you call.
Pain can appear later. If it persists, see our tooth pain guide. If swelling, fever or a bad taste develops, read our dental infection guide and seek assessment.
Dental injury questions
Can a tooth be injured without pain?
Yes. A crack or injury to the supporting tissues may not hurt at first. A tooth that has moved, fractured or changed your bite should be assessed.
Should a child be checked after a mouth injury?
Yes, especially if a tooth is loose, displaced, broken or missing. Never replant a knocked-out baby tooth. A dentist can assess both the injury and the developing adult tooth.
What if I cannot find the broken piece?
Call a dentist and mention that a piece is missing. They can examine the tooth and any soft tissue injury. If you do find the piece, keep it in milk or sterile saline and bring it in.
Does every injury need the hospital?
No. Many tooth injuries are assessed by a dentist. Breathing or swallowing difficulty, heavy bleeding, suspected jaw fracture or significant head-injury symptoms need urgent medical care.
