Dental Trauma-What to do if you or your child have an accident.

Every once in a while, every dentist gets a panicked call from a school or parent - someone was hit in the mouth and either broke a tooth, knocked it loose or knocked it out completely. There can be may different scenarios, such a bike accident, an elbow to the mouth playing basketball, or a softball to the face, but whatever the cause if you know what to do and act quickly you can help save the tooth and prevent a lifetime of dental problems.

If a tooth if hit or chipped, but doesn't come out, you should see your dentist as soon as possible to evaluate the tooth. Treatment can be done to cover sensitive exposed tooth structure. In many cases, the pulp (nerve) of the tooth will need to be tested initially and at a follow-up visit to determine if the tooth is going to become nonvital (i.e. a dead tooth) and need a root canal. If the tooth is loose, it may need to be splinted in position with a wire or bonding to other teeth

Soft tissue injuries to the lip sometimes needs sutures, and antibiotics may be needed if lacerations are present.

If a tooth is knocked out completely, quick action can make the difference between saving the tooth and having to replace it completely. Teeth can be reimplanted, but in order for this to be successful you need to protect the cells on the outside of the root. If the tooth has landed on the ground and is dirty, it should be rinsed, ideally with saline or contact lens solution. If these are not available, milk or, as a last resort, water can be used. You do not want to scrub the root clean because this will remove the PDL - the collagen cells that attach the root to the bone. After rinsing, if possible, the tooth can be reimplanted into the socket, but if you can do this without pain or can't get it positioned, storing the root in the patient's own spit, saline, contact lens solution, or less ideally, milk or water, until you get to the dentist will help protect the tooth. By keeping the tooth wet you buy several hours of time in which the tooth can reimplanted. The dentist can numb the socket and replace the tooth and splint it with a wire or bonding. After 6 weeks, the splint can come off. The tooth will need a root canal, but that's much better than a bridge or implant!

Not all dental injuries can be avoided, but making sure your child wears a mouthguard when playing sports can prevent most of them. Play safe and be prepared for when accidents happen!

If you want to learn more about dental trauma, feel free to contact Dr. Adrienne Wimbrow at www.Upcountrydental.com. We'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.