Traumatic Injuries by Redmond Dentist Dr. Derrick Wang

Traumatic Injuries

Full and partial-contact sports like football, basketball and baseball as well as biking and playground accidents are common causes of traumatic dental injury. Teeth are often knocked out, dislodged, chipped or fractured. Treatment is dependent on the type, location and severity of each injury.

Chipped or Fractured Teeth

Most chipped or fractured tooth are repairable either by reattaching the broken piece or placing a tooth-colored filling. An artificial crown might be necessary if a significant portion of the tooth is broken off. Root canal treatment may be necessary if the pulp is exposed or damaged.

Injuries to the back teeth often result in fractured cusps, cracked and split teeth. Depending on the type, location and extent of the crack, root canal therapy and a crown may be needed. An extraction might be necessary in the case of a split tooth.

Dislodged (Luxated) Teeth

Injuries to the mouth may cause a tooth to be pushed sideways, out of or further into its socket. The tooth may need to be repositioned and stabilized. Depending on the severity of the injury, root canal treatment is usually needed for permanent teeth and should be started within a few weeks of the injury. A medication such as calcium hydroxide may be placed inside the tooth before we place the final root canal filling.

However, if the injury is minimal and the pulp remains healthy after the tooth is repositioned and stabilized, root canal treatment might not be necessary. The tooth should continue to be monitored with follow-up appointments, since unfavorable changes can still appear long after the injury.

Knocked-Out (Avulsed) Teeth

If the injury causes your tooth to be completely knocked out of the mouth, time is of the essence. You need to be treated immediately! The tooth should be placed back into its socket as soon as possible. Otherwise, keep the tooth moist in milk with minimal manipulation and avoid touching the root surface. Do not place the tooth in regular tap water.

The tooth will need to be repositioned back into its socket and a stabilizing splint will be placed for a few weeks. Depending on the stage of root development, root canal treatment may need to be started a week or two later. A medication may be placed inside the tooth before the final root canal filling is placed at a later date.

The prognosis and treatment of an avulsed tooth is influenced by the length of time the tooth was out of the mouth and the way the tooth was stored.Immediate treatment is crucial in this type of injury.

Root Fractures

Traumatic dental injuries may result in a horizontal root fracture. The long-term prognosis of the tooth is dependent on the location of the fracture. The chances of success are better if the fracture is closer to the root tip. A splint for stabilization may be necessary.