Knocked-Out Tooth Treatment in Scottsdale
 If a permanent tooth has just been knocked out, the next 30 minutes matter more than anything else, and our GOREgeous Smiles team in Scottsdale, AZ can see you the same day. A tooth that’s been completely knocked out (the clinical term is an avulsed tooth) has the best chance of being saved when it’s replanted within the first half hour.
If you’re reading this with a knocked-out tooth in your hand, here’s what to do right now:
- Pick the tooth up by the crown – the white chewing part – never by the root. The cells on the root surface are what allow the tooth to reattach to your bone.
- If it’s dirty, rinse it gently in milk or your own saliva for a few seconds. Do not scrub it, and avoid tap water if you have any alternative.
- Try to slide it back into the socket in the same orientation it came out, then bite gently on a clean cloth to hold it in place.
- If you can’t reinsert it, store it in milk or tuck it inside your cheek (saliva is also a workable transport medium).
- Call 480-585-6225 and head straight to our office. If we’re closed, call the number anyway and the after-hours message will direct you.
The reason those steps matter so much is that a replanted tooth has to reattach to living tissue. Tap water and scrubbing both kill the cells on the root surface that make reattachment possible. Time matters too: prognosis drops sharply after about an hour outside the mouth, even with perfect handling.
Knocked-out tooth treatment is one of the most time-sensitive situations in emergency dentistry, which is why our Scottsdale office triages these calls ahead of routine appointments. If you’re past the 30-minute window or unsure what to do next, get in the car and call us on the way – the steps above can be done while you’re getting here.
On This Page
What Knocked-Out Tooth Treatment Involves
 Knocked-out tooth treatment, formally called dental avulsion treatment, is the procedure for putting a permanent tooth back into its socket and stabilizing it long enough to give the body a chance to reattach the tooth to the bone. At our Scottsdale practice, when everything goes well, the result is your own natural tooth back in place, working the way it always did. When the situation isn’t favorable for replantation, we shift focus to controlling pain, preserving the bone, and discussing your replacement options.
The 30-Minute Window
The single biggest factor in whether a replanted tooth survives is how long it’s been outside the mouth. Replantation within 30 to 60 minutes carries the strongest prognosis. After about two hours, most teeth have lost the cells on the root surface that allow them to reattach. Storage matters almost as much as speed: a tooth carried in milk or saliva keeps those cells alive longer than a tooth carried dry or in tap water.
When Replantation Isn’t the Right Call
Not every knocked-out tooth can be saved. Teeth that broke at the root, were left dry for too long, or arrive with severe contamination sometimes can’t be replanted with a reasonable chance of success. We tell you honestly when that’s the case so you don’t go through replantation only to lose the tooth months later. The alternatives are extraction of the remaining root pieces followed by replacement with a dental implant once the bone has healed.
Knocked-Out Baby Teeth Are Different
A knocked-out baby tooth should not be replanted. Pushing a primary tooth back into the socket can damage the permanent tooth still developing in the bone underneath, which is the bigger concern than the lost baby tooth itself. If a child knocks out a baby tooth, skip the replantation steps above and call our office so we can check the area, rule out other injuries, and confirm the permanent tooth still has a clear path to come in on schedule.
Your Emergency Dentist in Scottsdale
Dr. Rod W. Gore has practiced dentistry in Scottsdale for over 38 years, and he’s seen the full range of dental injuries that come through the door – sports impacts, falls, car accidents, kids who tripped over the dog. His bio page details his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Northwestern University in 1987 and his AACD Accredited Member status, earned in 1995. The credential matters in emergencies because replanted teeth often need cosmetic refinement afterward (a chipped enamel edge to repair, a slight color change as the nerve dies); the dentist who saved the tooth is ideally also the one who restores it.
Dr. Brynn Van Dyke, DMD, completed her Doctor of Dental Medicine at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, and she spent nearly five years as a dental assistant before dental school. That chairside background helps in emergencies, where staying calm with a worried patient on a tight clock is most of the job. More on her bio page.
The Replantation Process at Our Practice
 When you arrive, we move fast. The clock that started when the tooth came out is still running, and most of what we do in the first 30 minutes is built around protecting the cells that have to survive for replantation to work.
Initial Assessment and Imaging
We take a focused look at the socket and surrounding teeth to identify any other injuries (root fractures in adjacent teeth, jaw involvement, soft-tissue lacerations) that change the plan. A digital X-ray and, when needed, a 3D Cone Beam scan show us what the bone and root look like before we put the tooth back. We numb the area as part of this step so the rest of the visit is comfortable.
Replanting and Splinting the Tooth
We rinse the tooth gently in saline (not water) to clear debris without disturbing the root surface, then guide it back into the socket in the right orientation. Once it’s seated, we splint it to the two adjacent teeth with a thin flexible wire bonded to the front surfaces. The splint usually stays on for one to two weeks for a tooth that came out cleanly, longer if the bone around the socket was damaged in the injury.
Root Canal Follow-Up
Most replanted permanent teeth need root canal treatment within a couple of weeks of replantation. The reason is that the blood supply to the nerve is severed at the bottom of the root when the tooth comes out, and the nerve almost always dies even when the tooth itself reattaches successfully. Treating the dead nerve before it causes infection or root resorption is what protects the long-term result. In some cases the tooth also needs a dental crown afterward to restore strength.
Long-Term Monitoring
We check replanted teeth at intervals for the first year and then less frequently after that, because internal or external root resorption (where the body’s cells start dissolving the root) can occur months or years after replantation. Most replanted teeth that make it past the first year do well long-term. We’ll let you know exactly what to watch for and when to come back.
Why Saving the Tooth Matters
Your own natural tooth, when it can be saved, beats any replacement we can build. The root sits in the bone the way it’s supposed to, the gum tissue lies against it the way it always has, and the bite forces transfer through it correctly. None of those things are quite as good with even the best replacement.
There’s also a bone-preservation argument. When a tooth is lost and not replaced, the bone that used to support it slowly resorbs – a process that affects the shape of your face over time and complicates future implant placement. A successfully replanted tooth keeps the bone where it is.
Front teeth especially are where replantation pays off. Even an excellent implant crown takes months and several appointments to deliver. Replantation, when it works, gives you your tooth back the same day.
Why Choose Our Practice for Dental Emergencies
There’s one concrete reason to call us first when a tooth gets knocked out: we’re set up for it. Our office holds same-day slots specifically for emergencies. The front desk is trained to recognize an avulsion call and bypass the regular scheduling queue, and we’ll talk you through storage and transport while you’re on the way.
Beyond scheduling, the equipment on hand changes what’s possible. Our 3D Cone Beam scanner shows us the bone and root in three dimensions before we replant the tooth, which is particularly useful when a fall or impact has damaged the socket itself.
What our emergency patients say about working with us:
"Needed some emergency work done, had not been to any dentist for years and was looking for a dentist for a long term plan. Nailed it and found my dental home with Dr Gore and his entire team. Nothing pleasant about dental work or insurance these days and the good doc did excellent work and the team and Lisa did excellent work as well. Communication was and continues to be second to none. Thank You all very much!"
– Jesse B., Google review
"5 stars only because there aren’t 6. At Goregeous Smile’s, state of the art equipment meets dental expertise in quality work and demeanor, with a staff of incredibly welcoming and kind people. I really do not like going to the dentist, but Dr. Rod Gore and his office make a dental emergency almost good news. Blown away by the total experience. Choose these guys, you will NOT regret it."
– James M., Google review
"I had an emergency problem, they got me in fast and were able to help me. They were so courteous and helpful. I’ll definitely be using them as my dental office from now on."
– Melanie W., Google review
More patient feedback on our reviews page.
Cost and Insurance
Cost is a fair concern when you’re calling about an emergency, and we want to be straight with you about how it works. The cost of treating a knocked-out tooth varies because it depends on what the visit ends up needing – the replantation and splint, the imaging, anesthesia, the follow-up root canal, and any restorative work afterward. We give you a clear written estimate after we’ve assessed the tooth and the socket, so you know what you’re committing to before each phase begins.
Most dental insurance plans cover emergency replantation as a medically necessary procedure, and the follow-up root canal is typically covered as well. Our front office team verifies your benefits with your carrier (we currently accept Cigna and Guardian PPO among other major plans) and lays out exactly what your insurance will and won’t pay. Our financial and insurance page has more on accepted plans and out-of-network claim filing.
For patients without dental insurance, the in-office GOREgeous Membership Plan covers preventive care and adds a discount on additional treatment for a flat annual fee. Third-party financing is also available for spreading out the cost of root canal and crown work that often follows replantation. Call 480-585-6225 for a personalized estimate before or after your visit.
Schedule Emergency Care
If a tooth has just been knocked out, call 480-585-6225 right now and head to our office. For non-emergencies, use our Request an Appointment page to schedule. We’re located at 8535 E. Hartford Drive #208 in Scottsdale, AZ 85255-5438. You can also reach us through our Contact page for general questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to save a knocked-out tooth?
There’s a meaningful drop in prognosis after the first 30 to 60 minutes, and again past the two-hour mark, but the honest practical advice is to bring the tooth in regardless of how long it’s been out. We can occasionally replant teeth that fall outside the textbook window when the tooth has been stored well. And when a tooth genuinely can’t be replanted, having it on hand still helps – we use it to measure for an immediate temporary, match the shade for the eventual implant crown, and confirm whether any remaining root pieces need to be extracted first.
What if I can’t get to the dentist within 30 minutes?
Storage is your second-best friend after speed. If you can place the tooth back in the socket and bite on gauze to hold it, that’s the best transport medium there is. If you can’t do that, milk is the next best option (the calcium and pH are close to what the root cells need), then your own saliva (held in the cheek pouch or in a small container). If we can’t see you in time after-hours, an emergency room or urgent care can stabilize the area until our first available appointment.
Should I put a knocked-out baby tooth back in?
No. Replanting a baby tooth risks damaging the permanent tooth bud, which is a worse outcome than letting the baby tooth go a little early. The practical question is what to do at home in the meantime: an over-the-counter pain reliever appropriate for your child’s age and a soft diet for a day or two are usually enough. The permanent tooth will come in on its own schedule, occasionally a little earlier than expected after an early loss of the baby tooth.
Will my replanted tooth always need a root canal?
Almost always for adults. The exception is occasionally seen in young patients whose roots aren’t fully formed; in those cases the nerve can sometimes revascularize on its own and we may delay or skip the root canal entirely. For everyone else, we usually schedule the root canal one to two weeks after replantation, and the procedure itself is the same as a standard root canal on any other tooth – local anesthesia, one or two visits, no major recovery.
How long does the splint stay on?
Usually one to two weeks for a clean avulsion, and four to six weeks when the surrounding bone or an adjacent tooth was also injured. While it’s on, the splint doesn’t affect speech and you can eat on the other side; we’ll show you how to keep it clean without dislodging it. We take it off in a brief follow-up visit once the tooth is stable in the socket again. The splint sits low against the front of your teeth and most people adjust to it within a few days.
What happens if the replanted tooth doesn’t take?
It usually shows up as the tooth becoming loose again, changing color, or developing a low-grade infection over the months following replantation. We monitor for those signs at follow-up appointments. If the tooth fails, the next step is removing it and discussing replacement – most often a single dental implant, since the bone usually has the volume needed if we act before significant resorption sets in. The good news is that the time you spent with the replanted tooth in place preserved bone for that next phase, so you’re in a better position than if the tooth had been lost from day one.
How can I avoid this happening again?
For anyone who plays contact sports, mountain bikes, skateboards, or does any activity with a meaningful risk of an impact to the face, a custom-fit sports guard is far more protective than the boil-and-bite versions sold at sporting goods stores. The custom version distributes impact force across more surface area and stays in place during play. We make them in-office in a few appointments, and they last for years with reasonable care. Sports injuries account for a meaningful share of avulsion cases, and the prevention math here strongly favors the guard. |
