Your endodontist in Richmond, VA will tell you that dental trauma can potentially affect your smile for the rest of your life. Dental trauma refers to any type of injury to your teeth, gums, lips, tongue, and the bone that supports your tooth sockets.
Top Questions Asked About Dental Trauma
What Are the Common Causes of Dental Trauma?
The most common causes of dental trauma include falls, accidents, playing contact sports, and vehicle collisions. Injuries to the mouth can also be caused by a person’s involvement in violent incidents that include physical abuse or fighting.
What Types of Injuries Constitute a Dental Trauma?
Several types of injuries are classified under dental trauma. These include the following:
- Fractures in the tooth, root, and enamel
- Chipped tooth
- Subluxation or tooth knocked loose
- Intrusion or tooth jammed into the socket
- Avulsion or tooth knocked out
- Fracture of the tooth’s socket wall
- Fracture of the jaw
- Lacerations of the lips and/or gums
What Are the Treatment Options for Dental Trauma?
The nature of the trauma determines the type of treatment you need. Your dental care provider examines injuries to the mouth such as a tooth that sustained damage or has become loose. Sometimes, the neighboring teeth of a visibly damaged tooth may also suffer injuries that can only be detected by a thorough dental exam.
If you’re dealing with a chipped or fractured tooth, your dentist may recommend replacing the lost part of that tooth with the use of a tooth-colored filling. However, if you’ve lost a significant part of your crown, your dentist may offer you an artificial cap or crown instead.
On the other hand, if the pulp of your tooth is exposed or your back teeth have fractured cusps, you may have to undergo a root canal treatment. Root canal treatment may also be required to reestablish a dislodged tooth. However, if your tooth is split, your dentist may have to remove it completely.
Looking for an Endodontist in Richmond, VA?
At Commonwealth Endodontics, we’re dedicated to providing you with prompt and compassionate care for traumatic dental injuries. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.