An avulsed (knocked-out) tooth may be saved if what action is taken?

The best action to take for saving an avulsed tooth is to re-implant it promptly. When a tooth is knocked out, the periodontal ligament cells on the root surface can survive outside of the socket for a limited time, generally about 30 minutes to an hour. The sooner the tooth is placed back into its socket, the better the chances for the ligaments to re-establish themselves and the tooth to survive.

If immediate re-implantation is not possible, it is important to handle the tooth carefully and keep it moist, preferably by placing it in a container with the person’s own saliva, or whole milk, rather than ice or saline, as those options can be damaging to the delicate cells. Storing it improperly can lead to cell death and diminish the likelihood of successful re-implantation. Therefore, prompt re-implantation is essential to maximizing the chances of saving the tooth.