Traumatic dental injuries can happen in accidents or while playing sports. Chipped teeth is the most common traumatic dental injury. Teeth can also get displaced or knocked out. These injuries can be very painful and cause serious complications if they aren’t treated right away. If your tooth is injured or cracked, you should see your dentist as soon as possible.
Management and Treatment
Chipped or Fractured Teeth
Chipped or fractured teeth can typically be fixed by reattaching the broken piece or by using a tooth-colored filling. However, if a lot of the tooth breaks off, a crown may be necessary. If there is damage to the pulp of the tooth, a root canal may be required.
Displaced Teeth
An accident can push a tooth sideways or out of its socket.This can make the tooth become loose. In many cases, root canal treatment is needed to fix this issue. Your dentist will put a permanent filling on the tooth in the future.
Root canals aren’t typically necessary for children between six and 12 years old because they don’t have all of their permanent teeth. An endodontist will monitor a child’s tooth’s healing and take actions if changes develop.
Knocked-Out (Avulsed) Teeth
It’s important to see a dentist immediately if your tooth gets knocked out. The sooner you take action, the better your prognosis. If your condition isn’t too bad, your dentist may be able to place the tooth back in its socket and put a flexible splint on it for a few weeks. Your dentist may also recommend a root canal treatment seven to 10 days later.
There are a few factors that can determine the chances of saving a tooth, such as how long the tooth was out of the mouth.
Root Fractures
A horizontal root fracture can also occur from a traumatic dental injury. The prognosis of this injury depends on the location of the fracture. Fractures closer to the root tip are easier to heal than fractures closer to the gum line.
Follow up
After you get treated for your dental injury, you should get checkups with your dentist on a regular basis. He or she will monitor the healing process and complications that may happen. For example, sometimes the body can reject the tooth and make the root dissolve. If you are experiencing any excessive pain or swelling during the healing process, let your dentist know. Speak with an experienced attorney such as the personal injury lawyer Phoniex locals trust.
