Traumatic Injury
specialize in treating traumatic dental injuries
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Chipped or Fractured Teeth
When the pulp is exposed or damaged after a crown fracture, root canal treatment may be needed. These injuries require special attention. If breathing through your mouth or drinking cold fluids is painful, bite on clean, moist gauze or cloth to help relieve symptoms until reaching your dentist’s office. Never use topical oral pain medication (such as Anbesol®) or ointments, or place aspirin on the affected areas to eliminate pain symptoms.
Injuries in the back teeth, such as fractured cusps, cracked teeth require root canal treatment and a full coverage crown to restore function your tooth if the crack extends into the root. More seriously injured split teeth may require extraction.
Knocked-Out (Avulsed) Teeth
If a tooth is completely knocked out of your mouth, time is of the essence. The tooth itself should be handled very gently. Take great care to avoid touching the root surface itself. If it is dirty, quickly and gently rinse it in water. Do not use soap or any other cleaning agent, and never scrape or brush the tooth. If you are able, the tooth should be placed back into its socket as soon as possible. The less time the tooth is out of its socket, the better the chance for saving it. Call a dentist immediately!
The length of time the tooth was out of the mouth and the way the tooth was stored will determine the chances of saving the tooth. Again, immediate treatment is essential. Taking all these factors into account, Dr. Carroll may discuss other treatment options with you.
Dislodged (Luxated) Teeth
In the case of an injury, a tooth may be pushed sideways, into, or out of its socket. Root canal treatment is usually needed for permanent teeth that have been dislodged and should be started a few days after the injury.
*Please note: Children between the ages of seven and twelve may not need root canal treatment since their teeth are still developing. For those patients, Dr. Carroll may monitor the healing process carefully and intervene immediately if any unfavorable changes appear. Dr. Carroll will discuss procedures other than root canals with you, which can help young
teeth.
Knocked-Out (Avulsed) Teeth
If a tooth is completely knocked out of your mouth, time is of the essence. The tooth itself should be handled very gently. Take great care to avoid touching the root surface itself. If it is dirty, quickly and gently rinse it in water. Do not use soap or any other cleaning agent, and never scrape or brush the tooth. If you are able, the tooth should be placed back into its socket as soon as possible. The less time the tooth is out of its socket, the better the chance for saving it. Call a dentist immediately!
The length of time the tooth was out of the mouth and the way the tooth was stored will determine the chances of saving the tooth. Again, immediate treatment is essential. Taking all these factors into account, Dr. Carroll may discuss other treatment options with you.
Root Fractures
A traumatic injury to your tooth may also result in a horizontal root fracture. The location of the fracture determines the long-term health of your tooth. The closer a fracture is to the root tip, the better the chances of success and long-term health; fractures closer to the gum line are more debilitating for your tooth. Sometimes, stabilization with a splint is required while the tooth heals.
Traumatic Dental Injuries
Traumatic dental injuries often occur as a result of an accident or sports injury. The majority of these injuries are minor – chipped teeth. It’s less common to dislodge your tooth or have it knocked completely out but these injuries are more severe. Treatment depends on the type, location and severity of each injury. Regardless of the extent of the injury, your tooth requires immediate examination by a dentist or an endodontist. Sometimes, your neighboring teeth suffer an additional, unnoticed injury that can only be detected by a thorough dental exam.
Endodontists are dentists who specialize in treating traumatic dental injuries. With their advanced skills, techniques and technologies they often can save injured teeth. If you have a cracked or injured tooth, find an endodontist near you right away. Most endodontists offer tremendous flexibility in accommodating emergency cases, including weekends in some instances. You’ll have relief from your pain and likely save your tooth, so act as quickly as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Traumatic Dental Injury
Do traumatic dental injuries differ in young children?
bone.
Children’s permanent teeth that are not fully developed at the time of the injury need special attention and careful follow up, but not all of them will need root canal treatment. In an immature permanent tooth, the blood supply to the tooth and the presence of stem cells in the region may enable Dr. Carroll to stimulate continued root growth.
Will the tooth need any special care or additional treatment?
Resorption occurs when your body (through its natural defense mechanisms) begins to reject your own tooth in response to the traumatic injury. Following the injury, you should return to your dentist or endodontist to have the tooth examined and treated at regular intervals for up to five years to ensure that root resorption is not occurring and that the surrounding tissues continue to heal. Please note that some types of resorption are untreatable and result in extraction of the tooth.
Information from AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ENDODONTISTS.
