Dental Trauma — After a Hit to the Mouth
A blow to the teeth or jaws needs a same-day look, even when the teeth look intact.
What is happening?
Dental trauma is injury from a fall, sport, collision, or blow: chipped or moved teeth, cuts to the lip or gum, a tooth driven inward, or a jaw that no longer meets the way it did. A tooth that is completely out is its own emergency — use the knocked-out tooth page for the handling steps, and still tell us about the other teeth.
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Common symptoms
- Teeth that feel high, loose, or pushed out of line
- Bleeding from the lip, gum, or tongue
- A piece of tooth missing after a hit
- Bite that suddenly feels wrong
- Jaw pain after the impact
Is it urgent?
Uncontrolled bleeding, or swelling that affects breathing or swallowing — hospital ER. A tooth completely out of the socket — come within the hour. Teeth loosened or displaced but still in the mouth — same day, even if they do not hurt yet.
Call (416) 483-0000 →Right after a blow to the mouth
Account for every tooth
If one is missing from the mouth, look for it. Handling a fully knocked-out adult tooth is described on the knocked-out tooth page — crown only, keep it moist.
Pressure for bleeding
Clean gauze, gentle pressure, about 10 minutes. A cold compress on the lip or cheek.
Do not wiggle loose teeth
Leave them where they sit and come in. Testing a loose tooth is how it comes the rest of the way out.
Common causes
Sports impact · Falls · Bike, vehicle, or playground collisions · A blow during an altercation
How we diagnose it
We check which teeth moved, take x-rays of the roots and the socket, and look at the bite. A tooth can look fine and still have a damaged nerve or a root fracture. Cuts that need stitches, and any suspicion of a jaw fracture, are said out loud — some of those belong in hospital.
How we treat it
Reposition and splint
Teeth that have been bumped out of place are often splinted to their neighbours for a period of healing. The nerve is rechecked later, because it can die weeks after the hit.
Repair what broke
Chips and fractures are restored once we know the nerve and the root are stable enough. That may be the same day or a planned visit.
Sedation for this kind of treatment
Splinting and repair use local anesthetic. If the patient is a frightened child or the work will be long, say that on the phone. Sedation beyond nitrous is arranged, not improvised after an accident.
Sedation optionsRelated pages
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Still have a question? Our team is happy to help over the phone.
(416) 483-0000The tooth looks fine after the fall. Do I still need to come?
Yes if it was a real hit. Nerves and roots can be injured with no chip you can see. Same-day x-rays are how we know.
My lip will not stop bleeding.
Pressure with gauze for 10 minutes. If it will not slow, or you feel light-headed, go to a hospital emergency department and call us after.
Can you see a child the day of a playground injury?
Call. We hold same-day emergency time, including for children, during admission hours — 6 AM to 2 AM.
Read this as education
These are common patterns, not a diagnosis of your tooth. Your dentist determines the cause during an examination.