Originally published by UF News | June 11, 2026
A knocked-out tooth may not have to be lost forever.
Dentists at the UF College of Dentistry, or UFCD, say the first 30 minutes after a dental injury can determine whether a permanent tooth can be saved — a critical piece of information for families as children spend more time playing sports and outdoors during the summer.
Chipped, broken and knocked-out teeth are among the most common childhood injuries. By age 18, about half of children will experience some form of dental trauma, ranging from minor enamel fractures to teeth that are completely dislodged from the mouth.
“I tell my kids to protect your face and teeth at all costs,” said Andre Reis, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., a UFCD clinical professor.
Reis’s 10-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter have a dentist as a dad, so they hear this kind of advice all the time. He also insists that they wear mouthguards on any athletic field. But oral injuries may not be on every parent’s radar.
To become a patient with the college, you can call the college at 352-273-6700 during normal business hours to schedule an appointment at the UFCD dental center that best fits your child’s needs, or book online.