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Broken & Knocked Teeth

The nerve & blood vessels for each tooth enter through a tiny hole at the tip of the root. When teeth are bumped or knocked out, the blood vessels may be broken, & therefore the nerve & blood vessels "die". If the dead nerve tissue leaks into the bone around the teeth, then an abscess (pus) will form & give great pain. If the tooth is broken down to the nerve, similar events may occur.

  • If a tooth tip is broken WITHOUT exposing the nerve then arrange to see a dentist soon. It is possible that only a routine filling will be needed.
  • If a tooth tip is broken AND the nerve is exposed (seen as a bleeding point in the tip of the tooth) then seek IMMEDIATE treatment. If treated quickly, you may be able to prevent the nerve from "dying" & developing into an abscess
  • If a tooth is bumped but NOT loose then have it checked soon. If the nerve is found to have died, then it must be cleaned out before the tooth develops an abscess. This would mean Root Canal Therapy (RCT) is needed.
  • If the tooth is bumped AND loose then it is highly likely that the nerve has died & will need an RCT. Also, the loose tooth will need temporary splinting to the adjacent teeth whilst the bone & gum heal. Seek IMMEDIATE treatment.
  • If the tooth is knocked out COMPLETELY (ADULT teeth only) then WITHOUT touching the root surface, wash it briefly under running water & try to put back in the socket. If it can't be replaced in this way, then put it in a glass of milk & take it to the dentist IMMEDIATELY. The longer the tooth is out of the socket, then the more likely that the body's defences will reject it. Again, RCT & splinting will be required, & treatment may take several weeks or months. Also, ensure that your Tetanus boosters are up-to-date.

"Prevention IS better than cure" Most such accidents occur in sporting activities. Arrange for a custom-fitted mouthguard from the dentist made on a model of your teeth. The self-fitted type of mouthguard available from chemists give very poor protection & are not advised.

NOTE: Most of the above treatment applies to ADULT teeth only. Whilst damage to baby teeth should be examined by a dentist, they should NOT be replaced if knocked out.