When a tooth is damaged at work, the claim can wait a few hours but a knocked-out adult tooth cannot. Deal with the tooth and any bleeding first, get to a dentist, and tell your employer the same day. This guide covers the first aid, then how dental treatment fits into the NSW workers compensation scheme, and what records a dentist can provide.
Saving the tooth comes before the paperwork
Start by making the area safe and pressing firmly on any bleeding with clean gauze or a cloth. Look for any tooth or piece of tooth that has come out. Then follow whichever situation applies.
An adult tooth has been knocked out
Pick the tooth up by the crown, the white part you normally see, and avoid touching the root. If it is dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or saline; do not scrub it or use tap water. If you can, push it gently back into the socket the right way round and bite on a clean cloth to hold it. If that is not possible, keep it in milk or saline, or inside the cheek of an adult who is fully alert. Do not store it in water and never let it dry out. See a dentist immediately, ideally within 30 minutes, because the time the tooth spends out of the socket has a large effect on whether it can be saved.
A knocked-out baby tooth is different: it should never be put back, as this can harm the adult tooth developing underneath. A child with a knocked-out baby tooth should still see a dentist as soon as possible. Our guides to knocked-out tooth first aid and storing a knocked-out tooth in milk give more detail.
A tooth is chipped or broken
Keep any pieces in milk, as they can sometimes be bonded back. Rinse the mouth gently with water. A sharp edge can be covered with orthodontic wax or sugar-free gum until you are seen.
A tooth is loose or pushed out of place
Leave it alone rather than testing it. Eat on the other side, keep to soft food and get it checked soon. Displaced teeth often need repositioning and a splint, and the earlier this is done, the better.
Injuries that need a hospital first
Go to an emergency department instead of a dental practice if there is a possible broken jaw, the teeth no longer meet normally, there is a deep facial cut or heavy bleeding that will not stop, or the person lost consciousness.
Even when an injury looks minor, get it checked. A knock can loosen or crack a tooth below the gum without any visible sign, and an early dental record of the injury helps any later claim.
Report it to your employer the same day
SIRA, the NSW workers compensation regulator, says you must tell your employer as soon as possible after a work-related injury, including the date and time, how it happened and what the injury is. A short written message is useful because it records the time. If you cannot tell your employer, you can contact their insurer directly.
Once your employer knows about the injury, they must notify their insurer within 48 hours. The insurer is then expected to contact you within three business days and give you a claim number. Keep that number handy, as your dentist will need it on reports and invoices.
Who does what: SIRA and the insurer
SIRA (the State Insurance Regulatory Authority) regulates the scheme and sets the guidelines. The insurer manages your claim and pays for approved treatment. For most NSW employers, that insurer is icare, but some employers use a specialised insurer or are self-insured, so ask your employer who their insurer is. Questions about a decision on your claim go to the insurer. If you have a complaint about how a claim is being handled, the Independent Review Office can help.
How dental treatment gets approved
Initial treatment, meaning treatment within 48 hours of the injury, does not need the insurer's approval beforehand. That allows a dentist to see you on the day, replant a tooth or splint loose teeth without waiting for a decision.
After that, SIRA advises seeking the insurer's approval for most treatment first, and treatment that has not been approved may not be paid. In practice, your dentist sends a treatment request explaining what is proposed and why it is needed because of the work injury, then waits for the insurer's answer before starting. The insurer pays for treatment that is reasonably necessary because of the injury. Under changes that started on 1 October 2026, claims for treatment must meet a reasonable and necessary test, so a clear written explanation from the dentist matters.
Time limits for claims
SIRA says a claim should generally be made within six months of the injury, with extensions possible up to three years in some circumstances, for example if you were not in NSW or there is another reasonable cause.
Dental injuries can surface late. A tooth that seemed fine after a knock may slowly lose its nerve over the following weeks or months and later need root canal treatment or removal. Having the original incident and examination on record makes it much easier to connect a later problem to the injury that caused it.
Situations that are handled differently
| Situation | How it is usually handled |
|---|---|
| Injury at your workplace | Tell your employer; they notify the insurer within 48 hours |
| Injury while doing work away from your usual workplace | Treated like a workplace injury; note the task you were doing |
| Injury travelling to or from work | Assessed case by case; it needs a real and substantial connection between your employment and the incident |
| Injury in a car crash on the way to or from work | You may instead be covered by the NSW CTP scheme |
| Dentures damaged at work | A property damage claim for an artificial aid, even if you were not injured |
| Casual or part-time worker | Covered in the same way as full-time staff |
| Self-employed or sole trader | Often not covered as a worker; check your own personal accident or income protection insurance |
SIRA says claims for injuries while travelling are lodged with your employer's insurer on the other work related injury claim form. If the injury happened in a motor vehicle crash, our guide to dental injuries in a car accident explains the CTP pathway.
Damaged dentures and other artificial aids
icare lists false teeth and spectacles among the artificial aids that can be claimed if damaged in a workplace incident, and notes that you do not have to be injured to make a property damage claim. The claim is made in writing with the cost of repair or replacement. icare states the maximum payable for damage to artificial aids is $2,000, which can be increased by a direction from the Workers Compensation Commission.
Keep every piece of a damaged denture and avoid gluing it at home, which can make a proper repair harder. Our article on what to do with a broken denture covers the practical steps.
What your dentist can provide for the claim
Good records turn an incident into a claim the insurer can assess. A dental visit after a work injury can produce:
- a dated record of the examination, including how you described the injury happening
- X-rays taken on the day, which give a baseline for any later changes
- clinical photographs where the damage is visible
- a written treatment plan explaining what is proposed and why
- a treatment request to the insurer for care beyond the first 48 hours
- itemised invoices that quote your claim number
Bring your claim number, the insurer's name and your employer's details if you have them. If the injury has only just happened and you do not yet have a claim number, tell reception, and the details can be recorded and followed up.
Common questions
Does workers compensation pay for dental treatment?
It can, where the treatment is needed because of an accepted work injury. Treatment in the first 48 hours does not need prior approval; most treatment after that does.
I broke a tooth at work. What should I do first?
Keep any pieces in milk, control bleeding, report the incident to your employer and see a dentist the same day if you can.
How long do I have to make a claim?
Generally six months from the injury, with possible extensions up to three years for a reasonable cause. Reporting it early is always easier.
If it happened today
Getting seen matters more than the claim right now. Call a dental practice, explain that it is an injury and describe what happened. At Lumi Dental in Melrose Park, we can assess the injury, take X-rays and provide the written records an insurer asks for. If you are unsure whether to go to a dentist or a hospital, our dental emergency advice and broader dental emergency guide can help you decide. For anything that is not urgent, see our current offers for new patients.
This article is general information about first aid and the NSW workers compensation scheme; it is not legal or financial advice and is not a substitute for personal dental advice, so please seek advice on your own claim and see a dentist about your own injury.
