Dental Trauma Dental trauma is any serious injury or condition affecting the teeth or other parts of the mouth. You will not always need to be treated immediately, but you should always give us a call because it can be hard for you to determine the need for treatment on your own. Tooth loss and displacement are the most common types of dental trauma that we see, but there are many different issues that you could experience with your teeth. Here at Precision Dental Specialties, we are able to treat many types of dental trauma.Common Types of Dental TraumaTeeth that have been knocked out are one of the most serious dental traumas we encounter since they must be treated immediately in order to save the tooth. Another common occurrence that we have is teeth that have been displaced because of a fractured root or another type of injury. In addition, you may need to see us for treatment if you experience a severe toothache along with fever as this can be a sign of serious infection. Dental abscesses and chips can also cause infection and must be treated as soon as possible. You may also experience objects being caught in between your teeth or a damaged restoration of some type, such as a broken crown or filling. Home Care and First AidThe first thing you should do with any dental trauma is to give us a call so we can guide you through the first aid steps. If you have lost a tooth, we may suggest trying to fit it back into the socket. If this is not possible, do not force the tooth in. Rather, place it in milk or saltwater and bring it into our office. For chips or fractures, we typically recommend using gauze to stop any bleeding and ice to control the swelling. We will likely also recommend an over-the-counter pain medication. If you have a broken restoration, we will instruct you on how to protect the tooth in the meantime before you get it repaired. Professional TreatmentTreatment plans differ greatly depending on the type of dental trauma and your specific medical history. For lost teeth, our oral surgeon will first clean the tooth and disinfect the area. They will put the tooth back in the socket and hold it in place using a splint. With this method, it is possible for your tooth to reattach to your gum and resume normal functioning. You will need to come in for a follow-up appointment in a few weeks. For dislodged teeth, our oral surgeon will check their condition to make sure they have not been broken. Once this is confirmed, we will move the tooth back into its place and splint it with a similar method to that of a tooth that has been fully knocked out. Again, you will need to come in for a follow-up appointment. This type of injury can also affect the dental pulp inside of the tooth, so periodic evaluation is recommended for several months following the injury. We will also provide after-care instructions for any dental trauma treatment. Call Precision Dental Specialties at 435-522-5629 if you have any questions about dental trauma. |
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