Urgent assessment
Time-sensitive trauma needs prompt review to assess tooth position, nerve risk and soft tissue injuries.
Dental trauma
Dental trauma includes teeth that are knocked, moved, loosened, broken or injured after a fall, accident or direct blow.
Last updated 2026-07-29
I hit my tooth. How urgent is dental trauma?
Dental trauma can involve the tooth, root, nerve, gum, lip, jaw or bite. Some injuries are time-sensitive, especially if a tooth has moved, loosened or been knocked out.
What you may be worried about
- The tooth may not be saveable.
- The injury may be worse than it looks.
- A tooth may darken, hurt or become infected later.
Common patterns people notice
- tooth injury
- knocked tooth
- broken tooth
Possible causes
- Falls, trips, sport injuries or accidents.
- A direct knock to the mouth, teeth, jaw or lips.
- Teeth being pushed, twisted, loosened, cracked or broken.
When to treat this as urgent
Urgency level: emergency
- An adult tooth has been knocked out, moved, loosened or pushed out of position.
- There is bleeding that does not settle, swelling, severe pain or a changed bite.
- There was a head injury, loss of consciousness, vomiting, drowsiness or broader medical concern.
What to do now
- Use the emergency dental page if a tooth has moved, loosened, broken badly or been knocked out.
- Seek medical emergency care first for head injury symptoms or broader medical concerns.
- Keep any tooth fragment and note when the injury happened.
What to avoid
- Do not force a baby tooth back into the socket.
- Do not ignore a changed bite after trauma.
- Do not wait for pain before asking for advice if a tooth has moved or loosened.
When to arrange a dental assessment
- Dental trauma should be assessed promptly when a tooth is painful, loose, broken, moved, bleeding or the bite has changed.
What a dentist may need to assess
- Tooth position, mobility, cracks, nerve response, gum or lip injuries, bite changes, X-rays and whether follow-up monitoring is needed.
Options that may be considered
Stabilising the tooth
A moved or loose tooth may need support depending on the injury.
Follow-up monitoring
Trauma can cause later nerve changes, so review may be needed even after initial care.
What we would consider before recommending treatment
- Whether the tooth is baby or adult.
- Whether it moved, loosened, fractured or changed the bite.
- How long ago the injury happened and whether medical concerns are present.
If it were our own teeth
If it were our own tooth after trauma, we would seek advice early because some injuries are easier to manage when assessed promptly.
A sensible next step
Use the emergency dental page for a tooth injury after a fall, accident or knock, especially if the tooth is loose, moved, broken, painful or bleeding.
Possible next steps
- Repositioning, splinting, repair, monitoring, root canal treatment, extraction, referral or medical escalation may be discussed depending on the injury.
- Review the urgent warning signs and decide whether the concern can wait for normal booking.
- Call the clinic if you need help deciding what to do next.
- Use normal booking when the concern is stable or planned.
- If symptoms are medically serious or worsening quickly, seek urgent medical help where appropriate.
Common questions
Is a knocked adult tooth urgent?
Yes. A knocked-out adult tooth is time-sensitive and needs urgent dental advice.
Can a traumatised tooth become painful later?
Yes. Nerve changes, colour changes or infection can appear after the injury, so follow-up may be recommended.
Need this reviewed urgently?
Use the emergency pathway for urgent dental problems. For planned care, book a normal appointment.