Knocked-Out Tooth & Dental Injuries in Chicago & Bourbonnais, IL
Traumatic Injuries is available at these locations:
When a tooth is knocked out, dislodged, or broken, every minute counts. The faster you get expert care, the better the odds of saving it. Dr. Raffi is trained at Dr. Raffi General & Implant Dentistry to handle a wide range of dental trauma, from a tooth shoved out of position to one that has come out entirely. If you or a family member has had a dental injury, call us right away.
What it is
Sports, a fall, an accident, or an unexpectedly hard bite can all displace, loosen, fracture, or knock out a tooth. Any such injury falls into this category.
Who it's for
Children, teens, and adults alike can be affected. It covers anyone whose tooth has been knocked out, pushed out of position, cracked, or loosened by an injury.
How we help
We provide prompt emergency evaluation, reposition and stabilize displaced teeth, and turn to root canal therapy when that is what it takes to save the injured tooth.
Tooth knocked out or injured? Call us now. Time is the biggest factor in saving it.
Dislodged (Luxated) Tooth
- What happens: An injury shifts the tooth out of place: partly into its socket, partly out of it, or sideways
- Right away: Forcing the tooth back into place yourself must not be attempted
- Our care: Dr. Raffi repositions the tooth, then splints it in place
- Next: Saving the tooth typically takes a root canal in the first few days after injury
- Looking ahead: Most dislodged teeth can be saved, so prompt care bodes well
Knocked-Out (Avulsed) Tooth
- How common it is: Each year, children and adults have more than 5 million teeth knocked out
- Why speed matters: A tooth has its highest chance of survival when reimplanted within 30 minutes
- Care: Dr. Raffi reimplants the tooth, then splints it for several weeks
- Later: A root canal, usually 1–2 weeks after reimplantation
- Long term: Act promptly, and a knocked-out tooth can last many years once reimplanted
Other Traumatic Injuries
- Chipped or fractured tooth: Bonding alone may handle a minor chip; deeper fractures may need a crown or root canal
- Root fracture: Where the crack sits in the root, and how severe it is, decide the treatment
- Loosened tooth: Loose but still in its normal position, it may firm up on its own or need splinting
- Jaw fracture: A suspected broken jaw means going to the emergency room immediately
If a tooth is knocked out, hold it only by the crown, never by the root, and rinse it gently with water. Try to put it back in its socket. When that can't be done, keep it in milk or saliva. Within 30 minutes if you can, get to our office.
Call 911 for loss of consciousness, bleeding you can't control, trouble breathing, or a possible broken jaw.
What to Do After a Dental Injury
Knocked-Out Tooth: Step by Step
- Locate the tooth and lift it by the crown, the white part, never touching the root
- Don't scrub, dry, or wrap it in cloth; if the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently with water
- Try to reimplant it, pressing it gently into the socket as soon as you possibly can
- When reimplanting isn't possible: Place it in a cup of milk or saline, or hold it inside your cheek beside saliva
- Getting to one of our offices or an emergency room within 30 minutes is the tooth's best chance of being saved
How to Prevent Dental Injuries
- For every contact sport and every recreational activity, wear a properly fitted mouthguard
- Buckle up in any vehicle and give children the right car seat
- Steer clear of chewing ice, popcorn kernels, pens, hard candy, and other hard things
- Childproof your home, because falls often start with a sharp furniture edge or a slippery floor
- If you grind at night, a night guard helps protect your teeth from fractures
- Regular dental checkups let us find and treat weakened teeth before they break
After a dental injury, acting fast can be the difference between keeping the tooth and losing it. Call us right away.
What to Expect at Your Emergency Visit
Visit Steps
- Assessment: Dr. Raffi takes digital X-rays, examines the injury, and checks nearby teeth for damage
- Repositioning: If a tooth was dislodged or knocked out, we carefully guide it back into its correct position
- Stabilizing: To hold the injured tooth while it heals, a flexible splint is bonded to it and the teeth beside it
- Timing: Depending on the type of injury, a root canal may be done immediately or scheduled within 1 to 2 weeks
- Healing checks: We monitor healing regularly and decide when the splint comes off, usually after 2 to 4 weeks
Helpful Tips
- Our team can prepare for your emergency if you call before you arrive
- Carry the knocked-out tooth or any fragments to us in milk or saliva
- Hold a clean cloth or gauze with gentle pressure on any bleeding
- On the way to see us, over-the-counter pain relievers can ease discomfort
- Call us so we can evaluate it, even though a knocked-out baby tooth is generally not reimplanted
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, provided you act quickly. A tooth reimplanted within about 30 minutes has the best chance of surviving, and even after an hour reimplantation is still worth attempting. The key is keeping the tooth moist, in milk or your own saliva, and reaching a dentist as fast as you can.
Get to one of our Chicago and Bourbonnais, IL offices, or the nearest emergency room, as soon as possible. Once you arrive, Dr. Raffi will splint and stabilize the tooth and perform root canal therapy to give it the best chance of long-term success.
No. A knocked-out baby tooth should not be reimplanted, because doing so can damage the permanent tooth developing in the gum beneath it.
Still bring your child in for evaluation, though. We want to confirm that no other teeth were injured and that the underlying permanent tooth is developing as it should.
A flexible splint usually stays in place for about two to four weeks, with the exact length depending on the type and severity of the injury.
Dr. Raffi monitors the tooth as it heals and removes the splint once it has stabilized, so the timing follows how well the tooth is recovering rather than a fixed schedule.
In many cases, yes. When a tooth is dislodged or knocked out, the blood supply to the pulp, the nerve inside, is often disrupted. Root canal therapy is frequently needed within days to weeks of the injury to prevent infection and preserve the tooth.
Dr. Raffi keeps a close eye on the injured tooth and recommends the right timing for treatment, so the pulp is addressed before it can cause bigger problems.
Cracked teeth run the full range, from minor surface lines to deep fractures that reach the root. The right treatment depends on how severe the crack is, spanning anything from a simple filling or crown to root canal therapy.
For a fuller look at the different types of cracks and how each one is handled, see our cracked teeth page.
A custom-fitted mouthguard is the single best defense against dental injuries in sports. Store-bought guards offer some protection, but a custom guard made at our office fits more precisely, stays put during play, and cushions impact far better.
We recommend a mouthguard for every contact and collision sport. It is a small, comfortable step that can prevent a painful and costly dental emergency down the road.
A dental emergency can't wait. If you or your child has suffered a dental injury, call us now.
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Visit Dr. Raffi General & Implant Dentistry
Chicago Office
6215 W Touhy Ave
Chicago, IL 60646
Bourbonnais Office
876 N Convent St
Bourbonnais, IL 60914