Many people, especially children, suffer traumatic tooth injuries, when teeth are either chipped, fractured or completely knocked out. Dr. Kirk Petersen, DMD, who runs Hemet West Dental Office in Hemet, California, talks here about the dmethods he uses to fix teeth up as good as new.
People of all ages can traumatically injure a tooth but most traumatic dental injuries occur in children. Injuries result from bad falls, playing in sports, bike or car accidents. The severity and type of injury will determine the treatment necessary.
A number of common injuries occur to teeth. Many of them affect the inner soft tissues of the tooth, known as the dental pulp. When the pulp becomes injured or inflamed, root canal treatment may be needed.
Here are a few common tooth injuries.
Chipped or Fractured Teeth
Most chipped teeth can be fixed with a tooth-colored filling if the chip does not expose the pulp. If the pulp is exposed, a sedative filling can be placed over the pulp, which might be the end of treatment. Other exposures, however, may require root canal treatment.
Injuries to the back teeth often include fractured cusps, cracked teeth, and the more serious split teeth. Cracks may or may not extend into the root. If the crack does not extend into the root, the tooth can usually be restored with a full crown. If the crack does extend into the root and affects the pulp, root canal treatment is usually necessary to attempt to save all or a portion of your tooth.
Dislodged Teeth
During an injury, a tooth may be pushed into its socket. This can be one of the more serious injuries. We will try to reposition and stabilize your tooth. Root canal treatment is usually started within a few weeks of the injury, and a medication, such as calcium hydroxide, may be put into the tooth. A rubber-based root canal filling will be placed at a later date.
This type of injury needs annual monitoring to make sure the treatment is working. During an injury, a tooth may be pushed partially out of the socket. Repositioning and stabilizing the tooth are usually necessary.
If the pulp remains healthy, no additional treatment may be needed. If the pulp is injured, we may need to start root canal treatment. A medication, such as calcium hydroxide, may be put into the tooth.
If a tooth is completely knocked out of your mouth, time is of the essence. If this type of injury happens to you, pick up your tooth by the crown, or chewing part of the tooth. Try not to touch the root. If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it in water. Do not use soap or any other cleaning agent. If possible, place the tooth back into its socket and call us immediately.
Types of Injuries
Chipped teeth account for the majority of dental traumas. The remaining represents more serious problems, including dislodged and knocked-out teeth.
Treatment depends on the type, location and severity of each injury. When any dental injury occurs, the most important thing is to let us know immediately. The outcome for your specific injury often depends on how quickly we see the severity of the injury and what type of treatment is needed.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
