Tooth Trauma
Dental trauma can happen to anyone. Car accidents, sports, falls and even crunching away on your favorite food can all cause dental trauma.
But no matter the cause, if you experience dental trauma, you have a better chance of potentially keeping your tooth if you act fast and call Miami Designer Smiles.
We understand the need to act quickly in dental emergencies. We can treat you effectively to achieve an optimal outcome for your affected tooth or teeth, your smile, and your overall dental and oral health.
What Is a Traumatic Dental Injury?
Traumatic dental injuries include injury to the teeth, jaw, gums and other soft tissue structures in the mouth. Dental injuries can consist of cracks, fractures, chips and even a tooth being knocked out of position or knocked out completely. You could also experience lacerations of the gums or even damage to the frenulum (the small piece of tissue that connects your upper lip to your upper jaw). Some types of dental trauma can also impact the jawbone, causing damage to the jaw, tissues that support the teeth and even the jaw joints.
Dental trauma can be sustained when you have a car accident, physical altercation, contact sports, horseplay or even a fall.
What Should I Do if I Have a Dental Trauma?
If you experience a traumatic dental injury, it’s important to take it seriously. Even if your situation seems mild, call us as soon as possible to get checked out.
Even if your injury seems to be “OK,” there may be trauma to your neighboring teeth and gums that may not be detectable to the untrained eye.
If you ignore your dental trauma, pain, bruising or bleeding, you could be putting yourself at risk for complications down the road. Complications that may require more extensive — and expensive — treatment later on.
When Is it a Dental Emergency?
Some dental issues are obviously urgent, while others can possibly be treated later, but we recommend calling us for a same-day appointment if possible.
Some issues, such as uncontrolled bleeding or severe pain that doesn’t lessen over time, require an immediate emergency visit. These injuries may include:
- A knocked-out tooth
- Chipped tooth/teeth
- Cracked tooth/teeth
- A tooth fracture
- Bruised gums
- A knocked-out or broken dental restoration (filling, bridge, crown)
- Damage to a tooth such as a root fracture that requires endodontic root canal treatment
- Damaged dental pulp
What to Do If You Have a Knocked-Out Tooth
If you’ve knocked out a tooth, you should pursue immediate care. First thing’s first, call us for an appointment. Next, stay calm and work to preserve the tooth. If you can locate the tooth, hold it by the crown portion (the top) and not the root.
Next, gently rinse it with a bit of water. Then, try to hold it in its original socket. If that is not possible, place it in a container of milk or your saliva. Do not place the tooth in water.
If your tooth is cracked or chipped, but still in your mouth, it’s just as serious as if your tooth was knocked out. We recommend that you try to cover any sharp parts of your tooth with dental wax or sugarless gum to protect the broken pieces. We recommend that you stay away from hot or cold foods to reduce the risk of pain on your nerves.
You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers to ease pain and discomfort.
This 15-year-old patient accidentally broke two front teeth. Luckily mom’s quick action to put the tooth pieces in milk and call Miami Designer Smiles saved his smile! Dr. Garcia was able to reattach the tooth pieces and with proper monitoring, the patient can enjoy longevity with his repaired teeth. Learn more about our cosmetic dentistry processes here. Tooth trauma doesn’t have to end traumatically.
At the Emergency Dental Visit
When you visit Miami Designer Smiles for an emergency, we will perform a thorough exam and give you some options for treating your injury.
Depending on the severity of your injury, you may require a restoration like an inlay or onlay, porcelain crown, or, if your tooth cannot be saved, a dental implant to restore your smile.
Our goal is to get you out of discomfort as quickly as possible while preserving your smile. If we cannot save your tooth, we offer dental implants and other cosmetic treatments, so you can rest assured your smile will look great once again.
At Miami Designer Smiles, we know that dental emergencies and injured teeth can be scary, upsetting and unsettling, especially for young children. We are here to help. Call us as soon as possible after your emergency, and we will do our best to fit you in right away. You can also talk to Dr. Garcia or Dr. Sanchez-Garcia about your injury, symptoms and next steps.
Reach Out to Us
Our goal is to make our patients comfortable and provide the best care possible at all times, including after a traumatic dental injury. We are here for you for all your emergency endodontic treatment/root canals, as well as general, preventive, restorative, dental care and cosmetic dentistry needs.
Are you missing a tooth from a dental injury or trauma from years ago? Has your bone or jaw joint health been affected by your injury? Ask us about our tooth-replacement options and other cosmetic services.
Want to learn more about dental offerings? Call us today to learn more and schedule an appointment.