Dental Emergencies: How to Handle Broken or Knocked-Out Teeth with an Emergency Dentist in Hampshire

February 6, 2025

Dental emergencies, such as broken or knocked-out teeth, can happen unexpectedly, often during sports activities, accidents, or even while chewing on hard foods. It’s essential to know how to handle these situations quickly to increase the chances of saving your tooth and minimising discomfort. Here’s how you can manage broken or knocked-out teeth and prevent further damage.

How teeth get broken or knocked out
Teeth can become broken or knocked out due to a variety of reasons, including:
• Accidents: A fall, a car accident, or being struck by an object can cause a tooth to
break or be knocked out.
• Sports Injuries: High-contact sports, such as football, basketball, or hockey, can result in tooth injuries if protective gear like mouthguards isn’t worn.
• Chewing Hard Objects: Biting down on hard foods like ice or candy can cause a tooth to crack or break.
• Decay and Weakness: If a tooth is already weakened by decay, it’s more prone to breaking, even with less force.

What to Do If Your Tooth Breaks or Is Knocked Out
If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, it’s crucial to stay calm and follow these steps to maximise the chances of saving your tooth:

1. For a broken tooth:
◦ Clean the Area: Gently rinse your mouth with warm water to remove any debris. Be careful not to cause further damage.
◦ Save the Tooth Fragments: If pieces of your tooth have broken off, keep them safe and bring them with you to the dentist. Your emergency dentist in Hampshire may be able to restore the tooth with bonding or crowns.
◦ Apply Ice: If there’s swelling, apply a cold compress to the affected area to reduce inflammation.

2. For a knocked-out tooth
◦ Find the Tooth: If the tooth has been knocked out, try to locate it. Hold it by the crown (the top part) and avoid touching the root.
◦ Rinse the tooth: If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently with water or milk. Do not scrub or remove any tissue attached to it.
◦ Reinsert the tooth (if possible): If you can, try to gently place the tooth back into the socket. Bite down lightly on a clean cloth to hold it in place.
◦ Keep the Tooth Moist: If reinsertion isn’t possible, place the tooth in a container of milk or a saline solution. Avoid using water, as it can damage the root cells.

3. Seek immediate care: For both broken and knocked-out teeth, time is of the essence. Visit an emergency dental clinic near me as soon as possible, ideally within 30 minutes to an hour. Your dentist may be able to save your tooth if treated promptly.

How our Emergency Dentist in Hampshire Can Help
Our emergency dentist in Hampshire has the skills and equipment needed to manage urgent dental issues effectively. If you’ve suffered a broken tooth, the dentist may use composite bonding, dental crowns, or other restorative methods to repair the damage and restore your smile. For knocked-out teeth, an emergency dentist may perform reimplantation if the tooth is viable.
Even if the tooth cannot be saved, your dentist can offer alternatives like implants, bridges, or dentures to restore your function and appearance. Remember if you have a broken tooth…dentist intervention is essential!

Preventing broken or knocked-out teeth
While accidents can’t always be prevented, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of dental injuries:
• Wear a Mouthguard: If you play contact sports or engage in activities where your mouth is at risk, a custom mouthguard from your Hampshire dentist can protect your teeth.

• Avoid Hard Foods: Steer clear of hard candies, ice, or nuts that can put undue pressure on your teeth and cause them to break.

• Regular Checkups: Routine dental visits ensure that any weaknesses or decay in your teeth are identified early, reducing the risk of fractures.

Final thoughts
Knowing how to react to dental emergencies and when to seek an emergency dentist in Hampshire can make a significant difference in saving your teeth. Remember, prompt care and quick thinking are crucial. Whether it’s a broken tooth or a knocked-out tooth, taking immediate action can protect your oral health and ensure a swift recovery. So, if you ever find yourself in a dental emergency, make sure you contact your emergency dental clinic near you right away.

If you’re searching for a dentist in Andover, an emergency dental clinic near me, a broken tooth dentist or a “dentist near me”, Smile Circle can help. More information on finding a local private dentist or NHS dentist near you is available at smilecircle.com.

The team at Smile Circle are excited to pair you with a dentist you can trust for all your dental needs, whether you’re looking for private, NHS, general or cosmetic dentistry!