Dental Injuries

How do we handle Dental Injuries?

Dental injuries are one of the more common reasons for endodontic treatment. At Contemporary Endodontics, our Team of Endodontists specialize in the treatment of teeth with dental injuries. Some of the more common traumatic injuries are explored in-depth below.

Treatment depends on the type, location, and severity of each injury. When any dental injury occurs, the most important thing is to see your dentist or endodontist immediately. The success and prognosis of treatment for your specific injury is often time-sensitive.

Chipped or Fractured Teeth

Chipped teeth account for the majority of all dental traumas. The remaining conditions represent 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 see your dentist or endodontist immediately. The outcome or prognosis for your specific injury often depends on how quickly you see your dentist.

Most chipped teeth can be repaired with a simple filling. Sometimes a chip will expose the pulp of the tooth when this occurs; root canal therapy is indicated. 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 by your dentist with a full crown. If the crack does extend into the root and affects the pulp, root canal treatment is usually necessary for an attempt to save all or a portion of your tooth.

Your endodontist or general dentist may reposition and stabilize your tooth. Root canal treatment is usually started within a few weeks of the injury, and medication, such as calcium hydroxide, may be put inside the tooth. A permanent root canal filling will be placed at a later date. You should continue to have the tooth monitored periodically by your dentist to assure proper healing.

Sometimes a tooth is pushed partially out of the socket. Repositioning and stabilization of the tooth are usually necessary. If the pulp is injured, your dentist or endodontist may need to start root canal treatment. Medication, such as calcium hydroxide, may be placed inside the tooth and should be followed by a permanent root canal filling at a later date.

Dislodged Teeth

Injuries to the mouth can cause teeth to be pushed back into their sockets. Your endodontist or general dentist may reposition and stabilize your tooth. Root canal treatment is usually started within a few weeks of the injury and medication, such as calcium hydroxide, will be placed inside the tooth. Eventually, a permanent root canal filling will be implanted.

Sometimes a tooth may be pushed partially out of the socket. Again, your endodontist or general dentist may reposition and stabilize your tooth. If the pulp remains healthy, then no other treatment is necessary. Yet, if the pulp becomes damaged or infected, root canal treatment will be required.

Avulsed Teeth (Knocked out teeth)

If an injury causes a tooth to be completely knocked out of your mouth, it is important that you are treated immediately! If this happens to you, keep the tooth moist. If possible, put it back into the socket. A tooth can be saved if it remains moist. You can even put the tooth in milk or a glass of water (add a pinch of salt.) Your Endodontist may start root canal treatment based upon the stage of root development. The length of time the tooth was out of your mouth and the way the tooth was stored, may influence the type of treatment you receive.

Injuries in children

An injured immature tooth may need one of the following procedures to improve the chances of saving the tooth:

  • Apexogenesis: This procedure encourages the root to continue development as the pulp is healed. Soft tissue is covered with medication to encourage growth. The tip of the root (apex) will continue to close as the child gets older. In turn, the walls of the root canal will thicken. If the pulp heals, no additional treatment will be necessary. The more mature the root becomes, the better the chance to save the tooth.
  • Apexification: In this case, the unhealthy pulp is removed. The Doctors place medication into the root to help a hard tissue form near the root tip. This hardened tissue provides a barrier for the root canal filling. At this point, the root canal walls will not continue to develop, making the tooth susceptible to fractures. So it is important to have the tooth properly restored by your dentist.

Learn More about Treating Dental Injuries at Contemporary Endodontics

To learn more about how we treat dental injuries, we invite you to contact Contemporary Endodontics to schedule an appointment.

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