Teeth Injury

What is

TEETH INJURY

CHIPPED OR BROKEN TOOTH

Chipped teeth are the most common dental injury, according to the American Association of Endodontists.

Experiencing a chipped, fractured, or even a loose tooth that’s sensitive upon touch warrants prompt attention. It’s crucial to schedule an appointment with us within 12 hours to address the situation properly.

If the chipped pieces of the tooth can be located, they might be reattached using tooth-colored bonding material. This material not only provides an aesthetic solution but also restores the tooth’s function and appearance.

CRACKED TEETH

Cracks, or fractures, in teeth vary in severity and are often sustained as a result of an abrupt blow to the face or if you bite down on a piece of food or object that is extremely hard.

Cracks in teeth, even small ones, can compromise your oral health, as well as the appearance of your smile.

Without treatment, they can worsen over time.

Cracks that affect the inner layers of your teeth leave an open passage for bacteria to pass through. Once bacteria get inside the tooth, they can lead to a painful, and dangerous, infection.

It is possible to crack a tooth and not realize it. There are some symptoms, however, that can point toward the issue. Common symptoms of a cracked tooth include:

Cracked teeth can often be treated with a crown, a cap-like restoration that covers over the entire visible surface of the affected tooth. The crown protects the tooth from further harm while restoring strength and preventing infection. If the crack is too severe, however, an extraction may be required.

FRACTURED TOOTH ROOTS

If you hurt your tooth, sometimes the damage can be hidden below your gums. You might not see it, but your tooth root can be broken deep inside. If not treated, this hidden break can get infected, causing a lot of pain and letting germs enter your blood. So, even if you don’t see any cracks in your tooth after an injury, you should visit us right away. We can use X-rays to detect fractures in your teeth’ roots before they can develop into something serious.

TOOTH INTRUSION

A dental injury might sometimes involve the tooth getting pushed back into its socket. This happens more with baby teeth because younger kids have softer bones around their teeth. This can cause some problems like:

If your tooth gets pushed back, we can fix it. But don’t try to make it go back in place by yourself, as this could cause more damage.

After we put your tooth back where it belongs, we’ll keep it steady with a special band until the tissues and bone around it heal.

PARTIALLY DISPLACED TEETH

When your teeth get knocked into, pushed a bit out of their gums, or move out of their usual position because of an accident, it’s very important to see a dentist or a special kind of dentist called an “oral surgeon.” You should visit us within six hours of the accident. We will look closely inside your mouth and might also take x-rays to help us see how much damage happened to the teeth and gums. After a thorough exam, we will know what treatments or procedures are needed to fix your teeth and make them healthy again.

TOOTH LOSS

When you hurt your teeth, sometimes one can fall out. If a tooth falls out completely, there’s a chance to put it back in. Here’s what to do:

Find the fallen tooth.
Gently clean it, but don’t touch the root (the part that’s usually inside the gums). Only hold it by the top part.
Once it’s clean, put it in milk or a special saltwater solution until you see us.
We can often put the tooth back in and help it stay in place while the gums and bone heal around it.

If the tooth is broken or you can’t find it, don’t worry! We will talk to you about ways to replace the missing tooth.

SOFT-TISSUE INJURIES

When someone gets a dental injury, it’s not just the teeth that can get hurt. Sometimes, the gums, tongue, and inside of the mouth can also get injured. If this happens, here’s what you should do right away, and then see us as soon as you can:

If it’s safe, gently clean the hurt area. You can use water and a little soap to rinse it or carefully remove any dirt with your hands.
If there’s bleeding, put a piece of gauze (a kind of soft cloth) on the spot and press down gently but firmly. This can help stop the bleeding.
If the bleeding doesn’t stop after about 10 minutes, you should go to the emergency room because it might be a more serious injury.

Don’t hesitate to call our dental offices for more specific information about handling a traumatic dental injury.

When people hurt their teeth or jaws, often because of accidents, many go to the emergency room. In fact, out of every 100 people visiting the emergency room for any reason, 15 of them are there because of tooth or jaw injuries. If someone has a broken tooth or jaw injury, we need to check the area around the jaw hinge (that’s called the temporomandibular complex). If there are any problems with the jaw hinge, we will start with simple treatments to help it heal.

Trusted help for your dental injuries!

If you have recently experienced dental trauma, we can help.

There are many different treatment options for different types of dental trauma, but all rely on quick action. When you receive any kind of dental injury, please contact us as soon as possible. Our team will provide you with instructions on what to do and arrange your treatment appointment.

We have been trusted by Sacramento County residents for over 25 years, and we’ll help you keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Trusted

Experienced, compassionate, trusted doctors available to treat your traumatic dental injuries.

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We have three locations to serve you. Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, and Sacramento.

Various Insurance Options

Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Auto Insurance, or Worker's Comp coverage may cover your treatment.

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