Emergency dentist in Rugby · what to do tonight
Knocked-out tooth: the 30-minute rule
Written by Dr Tim Bond, principal dentist at Rugby Smiles · Reviewed September 2026
The short answer: pick it up by the white part, put it back in the socket if you can, otherwise into milk, and ring us on the way. A tooth replanted within 30 minutes has a real chance of surviving for life. After an hour the odds drop fast.
We are a dental practice in a rugby town, so we see this more than most. Whether it happened on the pitch, on a bike or on the kitchen floor, the next half hour decides whether the tooth is saved. Read the four steps, then ring.
Emergency assessment £50, usually same day. How our emergency appointments work.
Do this now
Four things, fast. Every minute counts.
1
Pick it up by the crown
The white part you chew with. Do not touch the root; the cells on it are what let the tooth reattach.
2
Rinse, do not scrub
If it is dirty, a few seconds under milk or a gentle rinse of water. No soap, no wiping, no drying.
3
Put it back
Push it gently into the socket the right way round and bite softly on a clean cloth to hold it. If you cannot, drop it in a small pot of milk. Not water, not tissue.
4
Ring us now
01788 579 577. Tell us it is a knocked-out tooth and we will get you straight in. Out of hours, NHS 111 or A&E.
Why milk, and why the clock matters
The root is covered in living cells that let it heal back into the bone. Dry, they die within about 30 minutes. In milk, they survive for an hour or more, which is why milk from the fridge or a cafe is worth the detour and water is not.
Adult teeth only. A child’s baby tooth is never put back, because doing so can damage the adult tooth forming underneath. Keep the tooth, control any bleeding with a clean cloth, and ring us so we can check the rest.
A tooth that is loose or pushed out of line but still in is also urgent: leave it where it is, do not push it, and ring. We can reposition and splint it.
Do not do this
- Do not hold the tooth by the root or scrub it clean.
- Do not wrap it in tissue or leave it dry in a pocket. Milk, or saliva if there is nothing else.
- Do not put a baby tooth back in.
- Do not eat or drink anything hot, and avoid biting on the tooth once it is replanted.
What happens when you ring us
We examine the problem, take any X-rays needed, get you out of pain, and give you a written price for anything further before it happens. For a knocked-out tooth that means replanting or repositioning it, splinting it to its neighbours for a couple of weeks, and checking the nerve over the following months.
What we do when you arrive
If the tooth is back in, we check its position with an X-ray and splint it to the teeth beside it with a thin wire for a couple of weeks. If it is in milk, we replant it and do the same. Most replanted teeth need a root canal a few weeks later because the nerve does not survive, and we plan that with you.
If the tooth cannot be saved, or was not found, there is no rush on the gap: a bonded temporary tooth first, then the honest conversation about an implant or a bridge once the socket has healed. The emergency assessment is £50.
Go to A&E or call 999 instead of us if
- Swelling that is spreading to your eye, under your jaw or into your neck
- Any difficulty breathing, swallowing or opening your mouth
- A high temperature with a swollen face, or feeling very unwell
- Bleeding that will not stop after 20 minutes of firm pressure
- A blow to the face with a suspected broken jaw or a lost consciousness
Out of hours, ring the practice on 01788 579 577 and the answerphone tells you how to get urgent advice, or call NHS 111. A GP cannot treat a dental problem.
Questions people ask at 9pm
How long can a knocked-out tooth survive?
Best within 30 minutes. In milk, an hour or two still gives a fair chance. Dry, the chances fall quickly after half an hour.
Can I put a knocked-out tooth back in myself?
Yes, if it is an adult tooth, it is clean, and you are confident which way round it goes. Push gently, bite on a cloth, and come straight in.
Should I keep the tooth in water?
No. Water damages the root cells. Milk is best; saliva, inside the cheek, if there is nothing else.
What about a child's baby tooth?
Never replant it. Control bleeding, keep the tooth, and ring us to check the area.
Will the tooth last forever after being replanted?
Many do, especially when replanted quickly. Some are lost years later, which is why we monitor them. Even a tooth that lasts ten years buys time before an implant.
Ring us. Usually seen the same day.
Call before 10am for the best chance of a same-day slot. If today is genuinely full, we tell you straight away and book the earliest we have. You do not need to be registered with us.
Or book online · Read next: broken tooth · custom mouthguards, £150 · dental implants · Rugby Smiles Dental Clinic · 3 Newbold Road, Rugby CV21 2LQ