DENTAL INJURIES

TYPES

Most common dental injuries include:

• Chipped or Fractured Teeth – This is where a tooth is broken, but it is still rooted in the mouth. When only a small part of the teeth is chipped, it can be reattached or can be filled by a filling on the area affected while more prominent broken teeth require replacement of a whole crown. 
• Dislocated (Luxated) Teeth – a tooth dislocated when it is moved abnormally maybe because of accidents. The dislocated tooth shall be repositioned, and if needed, it will be stabilized by splinting it to the teeth next to it. Dislocated teeth require root canal treatment.
• Knocked out (Avulsed) Teeth – this is somehow the same with dislocated teeth, but in avulsed teeth, it is completely knocked out and is impossible to be repositioned. Knocked-out teeth need tooth implantation.

SYMPTOMS 

A person might consider having a dental injury when one experiences these symptoms:

• Toothache 
• Sensitive teeth
• Bleeding/sore Gums
• Mouth sores
• Bad breath
• Jaw pain or popping in the jaw
• Dry mouth
• Piercing infection
• Cracked or broken teeth
• Stained or discolored teeth

DIAGNOSIS 

When to call a dentist?

A chipped dislocated and knocked out tooth is considered a dental emergency. The dentists should be called immediately when symptoms of dental injuries or dental injuries itself cause pain, sensitivity in the tooth and dislocation.

Dental injuries are easily and readily diagnosed or seen upon examination. In some cases, Dental x-rays are taken to determine the severity of dental injury. Diagnosing a broken or cracked jaw take more dental x-rays.

 TREATMENT 

Treating dental injuries depend on the extent or the severity of dental injury. Upon diagnosis, the dentist should examine the wound immediately. For chipped or fractured teeth, pain caused by treatments is not that bad. It only needs natural coloured fillings to fill the chipped teeth. In dislocation of teeth, this requires root canal treatment which is painful but can be managed with the help of aspirin or ibuprofen. While in a knocked-out tooth, this injury needs implantation of new dentures as it is avulsed.

There are alternative treatments for dental injuries though treatment from a dentist cannot be substituted by other medications. These alternative treatments may be in the form of home remedies and herbs that can be used while healing progresses.