What is dental trauma?
Dental trauma is a damage to the teeth ,soft tissues in the mouth as well jaw bones.It usually occurs accidentally or during practicing sports and could require urgent treatment.
What types of dental trauma exist?
1.Trauma injury limited to the teeth- it ranges from just a small enamel chip to extensive fracture affecting the tooth nerve(pulp)
2. Trauma to the teeth extending down the root and sometimes involving the underlying jaw bone
3.Trauma to the tissues in close proximity to the teeth- it could make the tooth wobbly(subluxation),displace it(luxation) or completely remove it from its socket(avulsion)
4.Trauma to the gums,and inner mouth lining (abrasion,contusion and laceration)
What are the symptoms of dental trauma?
They could widely vary. It might be just a rough tooth surface and insignificant sensitivity when there is only a minor enamel fracture. In other scenarios involving pulp exposure, tooth mobility or loss,there would be pain,bleeding and swelling.
What is the treatment for dental trauma?
It depends on the scale of the damage.
If there was no nerve involvement it would be a case of just doing a filling or crown.
If there was pulp exposure then root canal therapy would be necessary in order to safe the tooth.
When the thave suffered luxation they will require repositioning as well as stabilizing splinting.
You might be able to save an avulsed tooth if prompt replantation is performed otherwise you may loose it. Time is of critical importance. If you received treatment within 1 hour of the avulsion the chances to keep the tooth would be good.
Is there prevention of dental trauma?
The most common way of protecting teeth against dental injuries while practicing contact sports is by using a mouthguard. This is made of elastic material that reduces the force of impact and also minimizes the risk of severe injury.
People who suffer from destructive grinding overnight would benefit from using night guard.
We should try and avoid chewing hard foods or biting on hard objects as this could lead to dental injuries.
Additionally seatbelts are of paramount importance for providing protection in motor vehicles.
Furthermore helmets are highly recommendable to use while riding a bicycle.
If you have experienced dental trauma and require professional help,please contact Irby Dental Practice at your earliest convenience.
