Outlook

• For knocked-out primary (or baby) teeth, there are frequently no long-term problems unless the permanent tooth was damaged. Sometimes the remaining baby teeth drift together and narrow the space for the new adult tooth.

• With adult teeth, the sooner the tooth is reimplanted, the better its chance of survival. Once an adult tooth is lost, it can never be replaced.

• For broken teeth, the more superficial the injury, the better the outcome. Once the nerve or blood supply is compromised, the worse the final result.

• Pushed-in teeth typically erupt on their own, if there is no underlying damage to bone, nerve, blood supply, or the developing adult tooth.