Treatment of Traumatic injuries

At Prime Endodontics, patients who experience dental trauma are provided with high-quality care, pain management, and treatment. Any trauma or injury endured by the teeth, gums, and surrounding or relating structures is known as dental trauma. Dental trauma is most common amongst children and teens, but sometimes, it can also affect adults. Dental trauma injuries can result in chipped, cracked, or knocked-out teeth. Any dental injury, no matter even if it's a mild one, requires examination by a dentist as soon as possible. Sometimes, there might be an unnoticed injury in the neighboring teeth, which can be detected through a thorough dental exam.

What causes dental trauma?

Traumatic dental injuries can occur in people of all ages, probably as a result of active sports, automobile accidents, or bad falls and is most common amongst adults and teens. In young kids or infants, trauma usually happens to the front teeth when they start learning how to walk, run, and play. The causes of dental trauma might be as follows:

• Trips and falls
• The injury you get while being engaged in contact sports, e.g., basketball, football
• Accidents
• Having weak teeth
• To chew or bite down on hard foods 
• Repeated dental procedures on the same tooth

The common traumatic dental injuries are:

• Chipped or Fractured Teeth: Chipped teeth are one of the most common dental injuries. This tooth can be repaired either by reattaching the broken piece or by placing a tooth-colored filling. If a sufficiently important part of the tooth crown is broken off, then an artificial crown is placed to restore the tooth.

• Dislodged (Luxated) Teeth: Sometimes a tooth injury makes the tooth push sideways out of or into its socket. The endodontist will treat this situation by repositioning and stabilizing your tooth. Root canal treatment might be necessary for permanent teeth that have been dislodged.

• Knocked-out (Avulsed) Teeth: If a tooth knocks out of your mouth, then the tooth should be handled with care, avoiding the surface of the root. If it seems dirty, then immediately and gently rinse it using water. Do not scrape, brush, use soap, or any other cleaning agent. If possible, place the tooth back into its socket and consult your endodontist as soon as possible. After placing the tooth, the endodontist will evaluate it and will check if you have any other dental or facial injuries.

• Root Fractures: A traumatic injury to the tooth might cause a horizontal root fracture. The fracture’s location will determine the health of the tooth. If the fracture is near the root tip, there is a better chance of success. If the fracture is close to the gum line, then the success rate could be quite low.

What are the symptoms of a dental trauma?

Symptoms might vary depending on the type of injury sustained and its severity. Signs of dental trauma may include:

• Chipped or broken tooth
• Shifting of a tooth from its position
• Tooth falls out of its socket
• Pain on the affected part of the injury and surrounding areas
• Bleeding gums
• Swollen gums

Can it lead to complications if left untreated?

If left untreated, dental trauma might cause further dental concerns or complications, including infection, nerve damage, and removal of the affected tooth.

How can dental trauma be treated?

The treatment options and guidelines for dental trauma might vary according to its severity. Treatment options may include:

• Dental fillings or tooth-colored fillings 
• A dental crown or other ways of restoration 
• Placing back the tooth in its place
• Root canal 
• Tooth extraction

Located in Kirkland, WA, Dr. Cohenca serves patients understanding their dental needs. Do you need emergency dental treatment for your unexpected traumatic injuries? Just give us a call at 425-440-2000.