What to Do if a Tooth Is Pushed In, Out or Sideways

A tooth pushed deeper into the gum, partly out of its socket, or sideways needs urgent dental assessment. Do not try to move it back into place yourself. The right treatment depends on exactly how the tooth has moved, and on whether it’s a baby or permanent tooth — dentists manage the two differently.

Is this the right guide?

This page is for a tooth that’s still attached but sitting in the wrong position. If the tooth has come out completely, see what to do if a permanent tooth is knocked out or what to do if a baby tooth is knocked out instead. If it’s just loose, without an obvious change in position, see what to do if a tooth becomes loose after an injury.

How urgent is this?

If it’s a permanent tooth that has visibly moved out of position, contact a dentist urgently and aim for assessment as soon as possible.

If it’s a baby tooth, it still needs prompt dental assessment, but treatment is often different from a permanent tooth, and may involve allowing the tooth to reposition itself naturally rather than immediate intervention. See “What if it’s a baby tooth?” below.

What kind of displacement is this? (permanent teeth)

Pushed in (looks shorter than before, or has disappeared into the gum)
This is a significant injury, and treatment varies depending on how far the tooth has moved and how developed its root is — dentists monitor some cases to allow the tooth to settle back into position on its own; others need active treatment. Either way, it needs urgent same-day assessment so a dentist can decide the right approach.

Pushed out (looks longer than before, or is visibly hanging loose in the socket)
The tooth has partly come away from the socket but is still attached. This needs urgent same-day assessment — a dentist will usually need to gently reposition the tooth and hold it in place with a temporary splint while it heals.

Pushed sideways (tilted, or the bite doesn’t meet properly)
The tooth has moved forward, backward or sideways out of its normal alignment. It can sometimes feel quite firm, even though it’s clearly out of position, because it’s become wedged against the surrounding bone. This needs urgent assessment — a dentist will usually reposition and splint it.

Prompt assessment allows the dentist to identify the type and severity of displacement and choose the appropriate treatment — but dentists don’t treat every displacement the same way, and the dentist’s assessment (including how mature the tooth’s root is) determines what happens next.

What to do right now

1. Do not try to reposition the tooth yourself. Leave it where it is and get urgent dental assessment.
2. Avoid touching, biting on, or wiggling the tooth.
3. Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze if there’s bleeding from the gum.
4. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the face if there’s swelling.
5. Contact a dentist urgently — same day, or via an emergency line if outside normal hours.
6. If you can’t reach a dentist, see dentist, NHS 111, A&E or 999 for the next step.

Do not do these things

• Don’t try to reposition the tooth yourself, even if it looks like it would “click back” easily.
• Don’t wait to see if it settles — this is an urgent injury, not a wait-and-watch one.
• Don’t ignore a pushed-in tooth just because it doesn’t hurt — intrusion injuries can be painless despite needing urgent assessment.
• Don’t assume this is the same as a loose tooth — displacement needs faster action.

What if…?

The tooth looks shorter than it used to — what does that mean?
This usually means the tooth has moved further into the gum. For a permanent tooth, this needs urgent same-day assessment so a dentist can decide the right treatment — this can range from monitoring the tooth as it settles, to active repositioning, depending on the individual case. Treat this as urgent even without pain — intrusion injuries can be painless despite needing prompt assessment.

What if it’s a baby tooth?
Dentists manage baby teeth differently from permanent teeth. A dentist still needs to assess the injury, but dentists don’t automatically push a displaced baby tooth back into place. Dentists often allow an intruded baby tooth to reposition itself naturally — under current IADT guidance, this applies irrespective of the direction of displacement — which can take several months. A baby tooth pushed sideways or partly out may sometimes have dentists monitor it and allow it to reposition naturally if it isn’t interfering with the bite, depending on the degree of displacement and mobility. More significant displacement, marked looseness, or any risk of the tooth being swallowed or inhaled can change the treatment. Don’t try to reposition a baby tooth yourself — let the dentist decide the safest option.

Does this need splinting?
For a permanent tooth pushed out or sideways, often yes — a temporary splint holds it steady while it heals. For a permanent tooth pushed in, this depends on the individual case and is a decision for the dentist. Dentists frequently monitor baby teeth rather than splint them.

What the dentist may do

Depending on the type of displacement, the dentist may reposition and splint the tooth, or may monitor it while it settles or re-erupts naturally — this depends on which way the tooth moved, how far, and (for permanent teeth) how developed its root is. An X-ray often helps with the decision. Follow-up appointments over the following weeks and months are common, to check how the tooth is settling.

When should you contact the dentist again?

Once a dentist has treated the immediate injury, get the tooth checked again if you notice, in the weeks or months afterwards:

• The tooth turning grey, yellow or darker than the teeth next to it
• A swelling or small boil on the gum near the tooth
• Pain developing after things had settled down
• The tooth becoming loose again, or the bite feeling different

These can be signs that the injury has affected the tooth’s nerve and it needs further treatment — this is easily missed because it doesn’t always happen straight away.

If this happens at school, nursery or a club

Keep the person calm, discourage them from touching the tooth, and treat this as an urgent dental injury — arrange prompt dental assessment. See Dental Trauma First Aid for Schools and Dental Trauma First Aid for Sports Coaches.

Related guides

• What to do if a permanent tooth is knocked out
• What to do if a baby tooth is knocked out
• What to do if a tooth becomes loose after an injury
• What to do if a tooth is chipped or broken
• Dentist, NHS 111, A&E or 999: where to get help for a dental injury

Print this before you need it

Download the free Knocked-Out Tooth Poster to keep in your first aid room, sports bag or at home. Download free

References

• International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT), Guidelines for the Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries: Fractures and Luxations, 2020 (current as of August 2026)
• NHS, Broken or knocked-out teeth, nhs.uk

This guide does not replace assessment by a dentist or emergency service. It reflects current international and UK guidance, reviewed by Dr Yousuf Ibrahim, BDS.