If a tooth has been knocked out,
reach us right away.

Do these things in order

1. Call 540-418-0825 immediately. Even outside office hours, leave a message — we’ll do everything we can to see you within the hour.
2. Pick up the tooth by the crown (the white chewing part), never by the root. Avoid touching the root if possible.
3. Rinse it gently with milk or saline. Don’t scrub. Don’t use soap. Don’t dry it. Don’t wrap it in tissue.
4. If you can, place it back in the socket in its original orientation, and gently bite down on a clean cloth to hold it in place.
5. If you can’t reposition it, store it in milk — that’s the best transport medium. Saliva or saline are second best. Plain water is the last choice and only if nothing else is available.
6. Get to our office immediately. Best chance of saving the tooth is within 30 minutes; chances drop after an hour.

What we’ll do when you arrive

Dr. Sanie will gently re-implant the tooth (if it isn’t already back in place), confirm position with an x-ray, and stabilize it with a small splint to neighboring teeth for a couple of weeks. A root canal will likely be needed afterward to save the tooth long-term. We’ll see you back for several follow-ups to monitor healing.

If it’s a baby tooth

A knocked-out baby tooth typically should not be re-implanted — it can damage the developing adult tooth underneath. Still call us so we can examine the area, check for bone or root fragments, and make sure your child is comfortable.

How to lower the risk

Most knocked-out teeth happen during sports. A custom sports mouthguard dramatically reduces the risk and is one of the easiest preventive steps you can take for kids and adults playing contact sports.

If the tooth can’t be saved

Sometimes despite our best effort, a tooth doesn’t take. If that happens, we’ll talk through replacement options — most often a single-tooth implant — and give you a clear plan and timeline.