If an adult tooth is knocked out, the first hour matters most. Pick it up by the crown, keep it moist and call (561) 372-2189 right away. We'll tell you exactly what to do on the way to our Westlake office and have a dentist ready to try to put it back.
The $99 is a minimum fee for patients paying without insurance. It covers a limited, problem-focused emergency exam (ADA code D0140) and the X-ray needed to diagnose the tooth. Treatment is priced separately and quoted to you in writing before any work starts.
Open 7 days a week · Same-day appointments · $99 exam + X-ray · Se habla español
Signs you need knocked-out tooth care today
This one is simple: if a permanent tooth is out of its socket, or pushed out of place, call now. The same goes for:
- A tooth that's loose after a hit
- A tooth pushed up into the gum or tilted sideways
- A tooth that came partly out
- A baby tooth knocked out with bleeding or damage to the gum
Before anything else, check for bigger injuries. If the person was knocked unconscious, is confused, has a cut that won't stop bleeding, or can't close their jaw, go to an emergency room first. ER at Westlake is near our office. Bring the tooth with you.
What to do in the next few minutes
- Find the tooth. Pick it up by the white part you chew with, never by the root.
- Rinse only if it's dirty. A quick rinse with milk or water. Don't scrub, and don't wrap it in a tissue.
- Try putting it back. If the person is old enough and calm enough, gently push the tooth back into the socket, facing the right way. Bite softly on a clean cloth to hold it.
- If it won't go back, keep it moist. Milk is good. Holding it inside the cheek works for adults who won't swallow it. Plain water is a last resort.
- Call (561) 372-2189 and come in. Speed matters more than anything else here.
Baby teeth are different. We don't put them back, since that can damage the adult tooth growing underneath. Still call so we can check the area.
What happens at your same-day visit
You've called ahead, so we're expecting you. We don't accept walk-ins, and for a knocked-out tooth, calling first also means we can coach you through the steps above.
The dentist rinses the tooth and the socket gently, places the tooth back if it isn't already in, and takes the X-ray needed to check the root and the bone. A thin splint, bonded to the neighboring teeth, holds it steady while it reattaches. We also check for cracks in nearby teeth.
Over the following weeks we watch whether the tooth's nerve survives. Many replanted adult teeth later need a root canal. That's a follow-up step with its own written price, not something we spring on you.
If a tooth can't be saved, we'll talk about what comes next, honestly and without pressure.
Cost of knocked-out tooth care in Westlake
For patients paying without insurance, the exam and X-ray start at $99. If you have a PPO, HMO or Medicare Advantage dental plan, the exam and X-ray are billed to your plan. Replanting and splinting are priced after the exam, in writing, before we start. Cash, cards, in-house payment plans and Sunbit, Cherry and CareCredit financing are available. The cost and insurance page has more detail.
Why patients choose our Persimmon Blvd W office
Sports injuries love weekends. We're open Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and weekdays from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, so a Sunday morning game or a weeknight practice doesn't mean waiting until Monday. A person answers the phone 24/7. We take most PPO and HMO dental plans and Medicare Advantage dental plans, and there's parking on site.
Knocked-out tooth care near you in western Palm Beach County
The fields around Acreage Community Park and Seminole Ridge Park are a short drive from Persimmon Blvd W. From The Acreage, head down Seminole Pratt Whitney Rd. Coming from Royal Palm Beach, take Okeechobee Blvd west, and from Loxahatchee Groves, go north from Southern Blvd.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to save a knocked-out tooth?
Time is the key factor. The odds are highest when the tooth goes back in within the first hour, and the root cells stay alive longer when the tooth is kept moist in milk or saliva. Don't let it dry out. Call (561) 372-2189 as soon as it happens, then head over.
Should I put a knocked-out tooth in water?
Water is a last resort. It beats letting the tooth dry, but milk, or the person's own saliva, protects the root cells better. Never scrub the root or use soap or alcohol. Just a gentle rinse if it's dirty.
Can you save a tooth that was knocked out at a game?
Often, if it's an adult tooth handled correctly and brought in fast. Hold it by the crown, keep it moist, and come straight in. A cracked or dried root lowers the odds. After the visit, a broken tooth repair may be needed for any chipped neighbors.
What if my child knocked out a baby tooth?
Don't put a baby tooth back in. It can harm the permanent tooth underneath. Press clean gauze on the gum to stop bleeding, offer something cold, and call us. We'll check the gum and nearby teeth and make sure no pieces are left behind.