No matter how well you take care of your teeth, you can’t prevent accidental dental injuries. There are several ways in which your teeth can become damaged, such as the breaking or chipping of a tooth. Some dental injuries can also cause for your tooth to dislodge or knock out of the socket.
In the event of trauma, where damage is caused to one or more teeth, it’s important to contact your dentist immediately. Sometimes the neighboring teeth can suffer additional, unnoticed injuries that can only be detected by a dental exam. There are various possible problems, and each have their own way of being treated. The following includes a few possible injuries and how they may be treated:
- Chipped or Fractured Teeth- Most times a chipped or fractured tooth can be repaired by either replacing the broken piece or by bonding a tooth colored filling. If a large portion of the tooth is broken off then a crown will likely be required to restore the tooth. If the pulp is exposed or damaged a root canal treatment may be needed.
- Dislodged Teeth- A dislodged tooth is when a tooth pushed sideways, out of or into the socket. In these sort of cases, a patient will usually require a root canal and a dentist or endodontist will focus on stabilizing the tooth.
- Knock out Teeth- When a tooth is completely knocked out of the socket it may be able to be saved if the patient arrives to the dentist in time, and the tooth is handled properly. Do not touch the root of the tooth, and keep it moist (either in the socket, on the gum against your cheek, or in milk). Fast treatment is crucial to save the tooth, so the patient should get to the dentist immediately.
While most dental trauma is treatable, there are cases where the tooth is lost due to the nature of the damage. If you have a crack or chip in your tooth, even if you believe its minor, be sure to visit your dentist to ensure that the tooth is healthy. You don’t want to jeopardize the tooth root by neglecting to treat the chip properly.
If you have experienced trauma, that has left you with broken, chipped, dislodged or a knocked out tooth, please contact Dr. Patrick Simone in Henderson, NV immediately at 702-735-2755 to schedule an appointment. If you would like to learn more about our services visit our website at www.patricksimonedds.com
Dr. Patrick Simone proudly accepts patients from Henderson, Las Vegas, Silverado Ranch, Enterprise, Spring Valley, and all surrounding areas.