Traumatic Injuries

Traumatic injuries to teeth may cause a physical, psychological and social impact in children and adolescents. Teeth may be exposed to injuries such as fractures, loosening and displacement.

Approximately 30% of the general population experience traumatic injuries to their anterior teeth every year; the main reasons being sport activities, falls and violence. Open mouth and buck teeth are predisposing factors to dental trauma.

Prevention of traumatic injuries to teeth and early and effective treatment will save time, costs and unnecessary aggravation.

Have You Suffered a Tooth Injury?

Recommended treatment for permanent teeth

 Fractured teeth

1. Clean the fractured tooth and find the broken piece.
2. Apply cold compresses on the cheek from the outside if swelling is present.
3. Go immediately to the dentist.

Loosened or displaced teeth 

1. Close the mouth with a piece of gauze between the upper and lower anterior teeth.
2.  Refer the child immediately to the dentist.

Avulsed Teeth

Act quickly! The best chance of saving the tooth is within the first 20 minutes of the accident.

1. Find the tooth.
2. Handle the tooth by the crown ONLY! Do not touch the root.
3. Immediately replant the tooth to its original place, despite the bleeding.
4. Close the mouth with a piece of gauze between the upper and lower anterior teeth.
5. If the tooth cannot be replanted, immediately put the tooth in cold milk or in coconut water. 
6.  Go immediately to the dentist.

Injuries in children

An injured immature tooth may need one of the following procedures to improve the chances of saving the tooth:

Apexogenesis

This procedure encourages the root to continue development as the pulp is healed. Soft tissue is covered with medication to encourage growth. The tip of the root (apex) will continue to close as the child gets older. In turn, the walls of the root canal will thicken. If the pulp heals, no additional treatment will be necessary. The more mature the root becomes, the better the chance to save the tooth.

Apexification

In this case, the unhealthy pulp is removed. The doctors place medication into the root to help a hard tissue form near the root tip. This hardened tissue provides a barrier for the root canal filling. At this point, the root canal walls will not continue to develop, making the tooth susceptible to fractures. So it is important to have the tooth properly restored by your dentist.