Open: Mon – Sat 9:00am-6:00pm | Sun – Closed
Every minute counts. Follow these steps immediately while calling us on (02) 8677 9094.
Handle the tooth by the white crown part — never touch the root. The root surface contains periodontal ligament cells that must remain intact for reimplantation to succeed.
If the tooth is dirty, rinse very gently with milk or saline for no more than 10 seconds. Do not use tap water, soap or antiseptic. Do not scrub or wipe the root surface.
If you are calm enough, push the tooth firmly back into its socket in the correct position. Bite down gently on a clean cloth to hold it in place. This gives the best chance of successful reimplantation.
Place the tooth in a cup of full-fat cow’s milk, or hold it inside your cheek between the gum and cheek. Do not store in tap water — it damages the root cells. Do not wrap in tissue or let it dry.
Call (02) 8677 9094 (Toongabbie · North Ryde) or (02) 8809 2221 (Blacktown) while travelling to us. Tell the receptionist you have a knocked-out tooth — you will be seen immediately.
| Storage Method | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Back in the socket | ✅ Best | Immediately reimplanted — ideal if patient is calm and able |
| Full-fat cow’s milk | ✅ Excellent | Maintains root cell viability for up to 1–2 hours — most accessible option |
| Inside the cheek / under tongue | ✅ Good | Saliva is a good storage medium — only use with adults, not children (risk of swallowing) |
| Saline (salt water) | ✅ Acceptable | Better than tap water — 1 tsp salt in a cup of water |
| Tap water | ⚠️ Last resort | Damages root cells but better than drying — use only if nothing else available |
| Dry / wrapped in tissue | ❌ Avoid | Root cells die rapidly — severely reduces reimplantation success |
When you arrive at Paynless Dental with a knocked-out tooth, tell the receptionist immediately — you will be seen as a priority. Here is what to expect:
If the tooth cannot be reimplanted (too long dry, root damage, child’s baby tooth), your dentist will discuss tooth replacement options:
Written quote for all options at consultation. No pressure to decide immediately.
“I was in so much pain — called Paynless Dental and they got me in straight away and had my tooth fixed within the hour. Fast, pleasant and painless. Highly recommend.”
“Had the worst pain I have ever experienced and the team at Paynless managed to see me that day and extract the tooth which gave me instant relief. Dr Jins was amazing and very helpful.”
“Dr Jins John is the best. I came in to see him as an emergency consult for aching tooth & he made sure I understood what is happening, down to prices. I didn’t even feel a thing.”
Yes — a knocked-out permanent tooth can often be successfully reimplanted if treated within 30–60 minutes. Call Paynless Dental immediately on (02) 8677 9094. Tell the receptionist you have a knocked-out tooth — you will be prioritised. Baby teeth are NOT reimplanted.
Best options in order: (1) Reinsert in the socket immediately. (2) Full-fat cow’s milk. (3) Inside your cheek / saliva (adults only). (4) Saline. Last resort: tap water. Never let the tooth dry out or wrap in tissue. Do not scrub the root.
Come directly to Paynless Dental — hospital Emergency Departments do not reimplant teeth. Call (02) 8677 9094 and come in immediately. Exception: if the injury also involves head trauma, loss of consciousness or severe uncontrolled bleeding — call 000 first.
Do NOT reinsert a baby (deciduous) tooth — reimplanting it can damage the developing permanent tooth beneath. Call (02) 8677 9094 for guidance. Assess for other injuries. If a permanent tooth has also been knocked out — follow standard reimplantation steps (don’t store in child’s mouth due to swallowing risk — use milk).
Success depends on how quickly the tooth was reimplanted and the storage conditions. Teeth reimplanted within 30 minutes in milk or saliva have the best long-term outcomes. Root canal treatment is usually required within 2 weeks. Long-term monitoring over 6–12 months is needed. Your dentist will discuss expected outcomes at the consultation.
Paynless Dental is not a 24-hour clinic. After hours: Westmead Hospital (for Toongabbie and Blacktown patients) and Royal North Shore Hospital (for North Ryde patients) can provide emergency dental care. For life-threatening injuries — call 000.
All dental emergencies — overview of conditions and when to call 000.
Information on this website is provided for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalised dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations.
Dental conditions, treatment suitability, risks, benefits, costs, and expected outcomes vary between patients. Your dentist will assess your individual circumstances during a consultation before recommending any treatment options.
Website content may be prepared and maintained with assistance from digital tools and reviewed according to content type. Clinical treatment information is reviewed by registered dental practitioners. Practice information such as opening hours, locations, fees, and payment options may be reviewed by practice management.
For independent clinical information see Healthdirect — Knocked-Out Tooth and teeth.org.au — ADA consumer resource.
