Urgent assessment
Trauma often needs prompt review so tooth position, cracks, nerve injury and soft-tissue damage can be assessed.
Dental trauma after a fall
A fall, accident or knock to the mouth can move, loosen, crack or break teeth and may need urgent dental advice.
Review required by Newstead Dental Co
I have had a fall or hit my tooth. What should I do next?
Dental trauma can look obvious, or it can be subtle at first. A tooth may be cracked, moved, loosened or injured internally even if it still looks mostly normal. The first decision is whether the tooth or surrounding tissues need urgent assessment.
What you may be worried about
- The tooth may have moved, cracked or loosened.
- A tooth may darken or become painful after the injury.
- The bite may feel different when you close your teeth together.
- You may not know whether the tooth can be saved.
Possible causes
- A fall, trip, sport injury, accident or knock to the mouth.
- A tooth being pushed, twisted, loosened or fractured.
- Injury to the gum, lip, bone or ligament around the tooth.
- Existing weakness from large fillings, cracks or previous treatment.
When to treat this as urgent
Urgency level: routine
- A tooth has been knocked out, moved, loosened or pushed out of position.
- There is bleeding that does not settle, swelling, severe pain or a cut to the gum or lip.
- The bite feels different after the injury.
- A tooth is broken and the inside looks pink, dark or soft.
- There was a head injury, loss of consciousness or wider medical concern.
Options that may be considered
Stabilising the tooth
A loose or moved tooth may need to be repositioned or supported depending on the injury.
Repairing a break
A chipped or fractured tooth may need smoothing, bonding, a filling, a crown or another protective restoration.
Monitoring after injury
Some teeth need follow-up because nerve changes can appear after the initial trauma.
What we would consider before recommending treatment
- Whether the tooth has moved, loosened, cracked or fractured.
- Whether the nerve, root, gum or bone may be involved.
- Whether the bite has changed.
- How long ago the injury happened.
- Whether there are medical or head-injury concerns that need urgent medical care.
If it were our own teeth
If it were our own tooth after a fall, we would want the injury assessed early rather than waiting to see if it settles. Trauma can be time-sensitive, and a tooth that looks acceptable may still need monitoring.
A sensible next step
Start the emergency assessment if you have had a fall, accident or knock to the mouth and a tooth is painful, loose, broken, moved or bleeding.
Choosing the next step
Use the emergency pathway only when the problem may need urgent review.
For routine, planned, or unclear but non-urgent concerns, book a normal appointment. For swelling, trauma, severe pain, bleeding, or a broken tooth that cannot wait, use the emergency assessment instead.
Common questions
Should I see a dentist after a fall if the tooth looks okay?
Yes, if the tooth was hit, feels different, is painful, loose, sensitive or the bite has changed. Some trauma problems are not obvious immediately.
What if a tooth has been knocked out?
A knocked-out adult tooth is urgent. Start the emergency assessment immediately and seek urgent dental advice.
Can a traumatised tooth become painful later?
Yes. Teeth can develop nerve symptoms, colour changes or infection after trauma, which is why follow-up may be recommended.
Need this reviewed urgently?
Use the emergency pathway for urgent dental problems. For planned care, book a normal appointment.