Oral Health Center

Has a permanent tooth been completely knocked out?Note: If you are not able to contact your dentist, go to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately. A permanent tooth may be put back in the socket (reimplanted) if it is knocked out or torn away from its socket. The best results occur if your tooth is put back in its socket by a dentist within 30 minutes. For information on how to transport the tooth, see first aid for a tooth that has been knocked out.

Has your child's baby tooth been completely knocked out?Note: Your child needs to be checked by a dentist even if the child's tooth was getting ready to fall out soon.

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Is a permanent tooth very loose?Note: Bite gently on a piece of gauze to keep the tooth in place until you can consult your dentist.

Has a permanent tooth moved?

Is a permanent tooth slightly loose?

Does your child have a very loose baby tooth?

Has your child's baby tooth moved or become jammed into the gum?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Has part of your tongue been completely cut off?Note: Be sure to follow first aid measures for proper transport of your tongue.

Has the cut or puncture gone completely through your tongue?

Does moderate to severe bleeding continue after you have applied direct pressure for 15 minutes?Note: Be sure to follow the instructions in first aid for a bleeding wound.

Do you have a cut or puncture in the roof of your mouth or the back of your throat?

Has the cut or puncture gone completely through your lip or cheek?

Do you continue to have minor oozing of blood after applying pressure for 45 minutes?

Is a cut, puncture, or tear deeper than and longer than ?

Did a cut, puncture, or tear that is deeper than leave a flap?

Does a cut, puncture, or tear that is deeper than gape open?

Does a cut, puncture, or tear that is deeper than have jagged edges?

Do you have a cut, puncture, or tear on the lip or edge of the lip and you are concerned about scarring?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Are you unable to remove an object from your mouth wound?

Do you think you have an object in a mouth wound?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Was your mouth injury intentionally caused by another person?

Do you think a mouth injury may have been caused by abuse?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have bleeding from a permanent tooth?

Do you have moderate to severe pain?

Is a permanent tooth sensitive to heat, cold, air, or sweets?

Are you unable to remove a tooth fragment stuck in a mouth wound?

Are you unable to open or close your mouth normally?

Are you unable to remove a piece of dental appliance stuck in a mouth wound?

Does your child have a broken or cracked baby tooth?

Are rough edges of a chipped or cracked tooth or dental appliance still irritating your mouth after 48 hours?

Do you have a crack in a tooth that is not causing any symptoms?

Do you have a chip in a tooth that is not causing any other symptoms?

Has the surface of your tooth chipped from grinding your teeth?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have severe pain that has not improved after 2 hours of home treatment?

Is moderate pain getting worse?

Do you have moderate to severe tooth sensitivity to heat, cold, air, or sweets?

Do you have moderate pain that has not improved after 12 hours of home treatment?

Do you have mild pain that has not improved after 24 hours of home treatment?

Are rough edges of a tooth or dental appliance irritating your mouth?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have diabetes?

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?

Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around a mouth wound?

Is the area around your mouth wound increasingly tender to the touch?

Do you have pus in or around the mouth wound?

Do you know or think you have a fever?

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than around a mouth wound for 24 hours or longer?

Have you had swollen glands (lymph nodes) in the jaw or neck or under the chin for 24 hours or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Has a permanent tooth changed color within 2 weeks of an injury?

Has your child's baby tooth turned gray, black, or pink?

Has a permanent tooth been discolored for weeks or months?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Were you cut by something clean and your last tetanus shot was longer than 10 years ago?Note: Something is clean if it does not have dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a broken water glass, a kitchen knife, or sewing scissors.

Were you cut by something dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?Note: Something is dirty if it has dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a garden tool, a dirty nail, or a piece of glass that has been buried in the dirt.

Are you not sure if you were cut by something clean or dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?

Are you not sure when you had your last tetanus shot?

Did you not get the first series of tetanus shots (primary vaccination series)?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Has the surface of your tooth chipped?

Are one or more of your teeth loose?

Does your jaw or teeth hurt from grinding?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may need immediate care. Call your health professional now to discuss your symptoms and arrange for your care.

• Symptoms are likely to worsen without medical care.
• If you do not have a health professional, seek emergency care.
• Emergency transportation is not needed. However, if you are not able to travel safely either by driving yourself or having someone else drive you, call an ambulance.

You do not need to answer any of the other questions.