Knocked-Out Tooth Treatment in Barrie, ON

A knocked-out tooth at Georgian Dental is a dental emergency that can often be saved if you act within the first 30 to 60 minutes. Call our Barrie office at (705) 739-6725This link opens an application to make a phone call now and keep the tooth moist in milk or saliva while you head in. We handle dental trauma as part of our emergency dental careThis link leads to Emergency Dentistry page.

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What to Do in the First 30 Minutes

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If your tooth has been knocked out, start these steps immediately while you call Georgian Dental’s Barrie office. The first minutes matter most because the cells on the root surface need to stay alive for successful replantation.

  • Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown. The crown is the white chewing surface. Avoid touching the root, which is the thin pink tissue attached below — it contains cells that must not be damaged.
  • Rinse it gently if it’s dirty. Use milk or cool water for a quick rinse. Do not scrub the tooth or use soap, and do not dry it with a cloth.
  • Try to reinsert the tooth into the socket. If you can, slide the tooth back into its socket in the gum and gently bite down on a clean cloth or gauze to hold it in place. The socket is the best possible transport medium.
  • If you can’t reinsert it, store it in milk. Cold milk is the most widely recommended storage option when a tooth can’t go back in. Saliva, holding the tooth in the cheek pouch, is another option for adults. Water is a last resort because it can damage the root cells.
  • Do not put the tooth in a tissue or dry container. A tooth that dries out for more than a few minutes has a much poorer chance of successful replantation.
  • Call us and head to our Barrie office. The sooner you arrive, the better your chances. Call (705) 739-6725This link opens an application to make a phone call.

If the knocked-out tooth belongs to a child and it’s a baby tooth, do not try to reinsert it. Baby teeth are not replanted because doing so can damage the permanent tooth developing underneath.

What Is a Knocked-Out Tooth?

A knocked-out tooth, known clinically as an avulsed tooth, is one of the most urgent emergencies we treat at Georgian Dental. It happens when a tooth is completely displaced from its socket, usually after a sports injury or a fall. The American Association of EndodontistsThis link opens a new tab to AAE website identifies avulsion as one of the most time-sensitive dental emergencies because the periodontal ligament cells on the root surface begin to die once the tooth is outside the socket and dry. Prompt action protects those cells, which are what allow the tooth to reattach to the bone after replantation.

One of our dentists at Georgian Dental in Barrie explaining the dental implant procedure to an elderly woman

Can a Knocked-Out Tooth Be Saved?

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A permanent (adult) tooth has the best chance of being saved when:

  • It has been outside the socket for less than about 60 minutes
  • It has been kept moist in milk or saliva (or placed back in the socket)
  • The root surface hasn’t been scrubbed or allowed to dry, and the root itself hasn’t been handled with bare hands
  • The tooth and the surrounding bone are not severely fractured

Replantation may not be possible if:

  • The tooth is significantly broken or crushed
  • The socket or surrounding jawbone is badly damaged
  • The tooth has been dry for a prolonged period
  • It’s a primary (baby) tooth

A clinical exam and imaging at our Barrie office confirm whether replantation is the right approach or whether tooth replacementThis link leads to Dental Implants page is the better long-term path.

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Your Emergency Dental Team

At Georgian Dental, we handle knocked-out teeth and other dental trauma through our four-dentist team at our Barrie office. When you call, we coordinate an urgent appointment so you’re seen by a dentist who can assess the tooth, reposition it when appropriate, and plan follow-up care.

Because our Barrie practice provides a full range of restorative services in one place, the follow-up care a traumatized tooth often needs — a root canalThis link leads to Root Canals page, a dental crownThis link leads to Dental Crowns page, or tooth replacement if the tooth can’t be saved — happens with the same team that handles your emergency visit. You aren’t bounced between offices for follow-up.

Learn more about our dentists at Georgian DentalThis link leads to Professionals’ page.

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How We Treat a Knocked-Out Tooth

Treatment at Georgian Dental's Barrie office follows a general sequence once you arrive with an avulsed tooth:
One of our dentists at Georgian Dental in Barrie smiling with her arms crossed in the dental hallway
  • Examination and imaging
    We examine the tooth and socket, and take imaging to check the surrounding bone for hidden fractures.
  • Cleaning and repositioning
    If the tooth is a good candidate for replantation, we rinse it with a sterile solution and reposition it into the socket under local anesthetic.
  • Splinting
    We bond a thin, flexible splint to the replanted tooth and the neighbouring teeth, typically for one to two weeks. The splint holds the tooth steady while the periodontal ligament reattaches.
  • Follow-up visits
    A replanted tooth needs monitoring. We schedule follow-up to remove the splint, check healing, and determine whether a root canal is needed, which is often the case for fully formed adult teeth.
  • Longer-term monitoring
    We monitor replanted teeth over the following months and years for signs of root resorption or other complications, and we adjust treatment as needed.

If the tooth cannot be replanted or does not survive long-term, we move to a replacement plan. Early planning often preserves the bone needed for a future implant, so the sooner we know the path forward, the better your options.

Why Fast Treatment Matters

Fast treatment of a knocked-out tooth at Georgian Dental’s Barrie office offers clear benefits:

  • The natural tooth can often be saved, which is almost always preferable to any replacement
  • The jawbone around the socket is preserved, which keeps future restorative options open
  • The gum and adjacent teeth are protected from shifting into the gap
  • You reduce the risk of infection in the socket and surrounding tissue
  • Your bite and speech stay as they were, and the facial structure around the socket is preserved

Delay is the single biggest factor working against the tooth. The same injury handled quickly often has a very different prognosis than one handled several hours later.

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If the Tooth Can't Be Saved

At Georgian Dental, we know not every knocked-out tooth can be replanted, and even some that are replanted don’t survive long-term. When that happens, we plan a replacement so you don’t leave a gap. Our Barrie office offers the main tooth replacement paths:

Option Best For Key Considerations
Dental implantsThis link leads to Dental Implants page A single missing tooth with healthy bone Surgical placement; preserves jawbone
Dental bridgesThis link leads to Dental bridges page A single missing tooth with healthy neighbours Anchored to adjacent teeth; no surgery
Partial denturesThis link leads to Dentures page One or more missing teeth Removable; usually the most affordable starting option

When an extractionThis link leads to Extractions page is needed because a damaged tooth can’t be kept, we plan the replacement approach at the same visit so you know what comes next.

Why Choose Georgian Dental for Dental Emergencies

A woman at Georgian Dental in Barrie smiling after her treatment

Patients in Barrie choose Georgian Dental for dental trauma for a few specific reasons:

  • We handle knocked-out teeth and other trauma as part of our broader emergency dental care, so you’re seen by a dentist who can manage the whole situation
  • Our four-dentist team covers examination, trauma care, root canals, crowns, and tooth replacement under one roof, which means you’re not bounced between offices for follow-up
  • Our practice has been recognized as a Top Choice Dental Clinic in Barrie
  • We’re open six days a week, including Wednesday evenings until 7:00 pm and alternating Saturdays

Knocked-Out Tooth Treatment Cost and CDCP Coverage

Cost for knocked-out tooth treatment at Georgian Dental depends on what the tooth needs. The main cost drivers we review at your visit are:

  • Whether the tooth can be replanted and splinted, or whether extraction and replacement are required
  • Whether a root canal is needed to save the replanted tooth (common for fully developed adult teeth)
  • Whether a crown is needed to restore a chipped or cracked tooth
  • The replacement path if the tooth can’t be saved (an implant typically involves higher up-front cost than a bridge or partial denture)
  • SedationThis link leads to Sedation Dentistry page level, if applicable
  • Insurance and CDCP coverage

We give you a written treatment plan and estimate before any non-urgent work starts. The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)This link leads to Dental Benefits Program page is among the benefits we accept, and coverage for emergency dental care depends on your eligibility tier and the specific procedures involved. We walk you through what’s covered and what’s out of pocket before you commit. We offer flexible payment options, insurance or not.

One of our receptionists at Georgian Dental in Barrie answering a phone call in her office while smiling
Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to save a knocked-out tooth?

The first 30 to 60 minutes after a tooth is knocked out are generally the most critical. The periodontal ligament cells on the root surface need to stay alive for successful replantation, and those cells begin dying once the tooth is out of the socket and dry. Teeth replanted within 30 minutes and kept moist in milk or saliva (or returned to the socket) generally have the best prognosis. After about 60 minutes of dry storage, the prognosis drops significantly, though replantation can still be attempted and sometimes works.

Should I rinse the tooth before putting it back?

A gentle rinse in milk or cool water is fine if the tooth is visibly dirty. Do not scrub it, do not use soap, and do not dry the tooth. The root surface has delicate cells that must not be damaged. A few seconds of rinsing to remove debris is all that’s needed before repositioning the tooth in the socket or storing it in milk.

What if I can't get to the dentist in 30 minutes?

Call us regardless of how much time has passed. Even replantation after an hour can sometimes succeed if the tooth has been stored in milk or another appropriate medium. If replantation isn’t possible, we plan the next step promptly so you don’t lose bone in the socket, which matters for future replacement options like an implant.

Does it hurt to have a tooth replanted?

We use local anesthetic to numb the area before repositioning the tooth and placing the splint, so the procedure itself is generally comfortable. Soreness and mild swelling are typical for a few days afterward and are usually managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. If you’re anxious about the visit, ask us about sedation optionsThis link leads to Sedation Dentistry page when you call.

Will I need a root canal after a replanted tooth?

Often, yes. Fully developed adult teeth usually need a root canal at some point after replantation because the blood supply to the pulp has been cut off during the injury. Teeth with immature roots sometimes recover pulp vitality without a root canal, which is why follow-up monitoring matters. We evaluate each case individually and recommend root canal treatment only when imaging and clinical signs show it’s needed.

What should I do if my child knocks out a baby tooth?

Do not try to reinsert a baby tooth. Replanting a primary tooth can damage the permanent tooth forming underneath. Keep your child calm and control any bleeding with a clean gauze pressed against the socket. Call us so we can see them for an exam. We’ll check the surrounding bone and adjacent teeth for any effect from the injury.

Can you see me on a weekend or after hours?

Our Barrie office is open Monday through Friday, with Wednesday hours until 7:00 pm, and alternating Saturdays. For urgent trauma during office hours, call us directly and we’ll fit you in as soon as possible. For trauma outside our hours, we recommend going to a local hospital emergency department for immediate care and then booking follow-up with us as soon as we’re open.

Is a knocked-out tooth covered by the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

Emergency dental care, including treatment for a knocked-out tooth, is covered under the CDCP for eligible patients, but the specific procedures covered and any co-pays depend on your eligibility tier. We verify your CDCP coverage when you arrive and walk you through what’s covered and what’s out of pocket before any non-urgent work begins.

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