The steps used to save a tooth differ depending on the nature of the injury. Injuries to permanent teeth require quick action to try to save the tooth. If the tooth is chipped or broken, the patient should collect all the pieces and make sure no part of the tooth is embedded in the lips, tongue or gums. Rinse the mouth with warm water and hold a cold compress to the injured area for 10 minutes. Call a dentist right away and proceed as suggested.

If a permanent tooth is partially knocked out, try to gently but firmly push it back into place. If the tooth is completely knocked out, pick up the tooth by the crown at the top, not by the root of the tooth. The tooth should be rinsed (but not scrubbed) in saline (water and salt) solution or milk, which is chemically similar to a tooth. The tooth can also be soaked in a cup with the solution. 

If the tooth is rinsed over a sink, make sure to plug up the drain of the sink to prevent the tooth from being lost. Water can be used, but only as a last resort as it contains chlorine that can damage the root of the tooth.