There are a myriad of ways to damage your teeth. Traumatic dental injuries will require intervention by your dentist.
What is a Traumatic Dental Injury?
Traumatic dental injuries are instances where damage is done to the teeth, periodontum, or surrounding soft tissues.
In all instances of dental trauma your best bet is to consult your family dentist.
Types of Traumatic Dental Injuries
There are many types of traumatic dental injuries but the two that require the most care are:
Dislodged Teeth
Injuries to the mouth can cause teeth to be pushed back into their sockets. If the tooth is pushed partially out of the socket, your dentist may re-position and stabilize your tooth.
If the pulp remains healthy, then no other treatment is necessary. However, if the pulp becomes damaged or infected, root canal treatment will be required.
Root canal treatment is usually started within a few weeks of the injury and a medication, such as calcium hydroxide, will be placed inside the tooth.
Eventually, a permanent root canal filling will be placed and the canal will be sealed.
Avulsed Teeth
If an injury causes a tooth to be completely knocked out of your mouth, it is important that you seek treatment immediately!
It is important to keep the avulsed tooth moist. If possible, put it back into the socket.
A tooth can be saved if it remains moist. You can even put the tooth in milk or a glass of water (add a pinch of salt).
Root canal treatment may be necessary based upon the stage of root development.
The length of time the tooth was out of your mouth and the way the tooth was stored may influence the type of treatment you receive and how successful the outcome.
Contact Your Dentist
If you have any sort of traumatic dental injury it is imperative you contact your family dentist.
If you do not have one and live in the Anderson, SC area please contact our office and provide details of your injury so we can get you in immediately.
It could be the difference between saving and losing a tooth.