When traumatic injuries occur that affect the teeth or jaw, a quick visit to the dentist becomes necessary. This type of problem is rather common in sports and vehicle accidents. The speed at which you get to the dentist will help to determine whether or not a tooth or teeth can be saved.

Displaced or Loosened Tooth

If a tooth is knocked sideways or deeper into the gums, a dentist should be seen within six hours. The dentist will need to examine the tooth and the area around it. Treatment often includes a splint, and a root canal may be required.

Knocked Out Teeth

When teeth are completely knocked out in traumatic injuries, it is very important to see a dentist immediately. In fact, when possible, you want to see a dentist within 30 minutes. The root of the tooth should not be touched at all. The dentist, or endodontist, will likely try and replace the tooth after evaluating it. A splint will be added to help stabilize it for a couple of weeks. If that works well, a root canal will likely follow.

If the child is young and still has their primary teeth, the dentist can best decide whether or not it should be replaced. A root canal may not be needed with a child under the age of 12 because the teeth are still growing.

Broken Teeth

When a tooth gets broken off or cracked, a dentist should be seen within 12 hours. Several issues will determine whether or not the tooth can be saved, including the condition of the pulp and the area around the tooth. The treatment could include a splint, root canal, or possibly removing it.

Checking Other Teeth

It is quite possible, when an injury occurs, that more than one tooth has been jarred and possibly damaged by the incident. A dentist will examine nearby teeth to check for noticeable damage. Sometimes, the damage may not be obvious for several months.

Possible Injury to the Jaw

If there has been an accident of some kind that resulted in possible injury to the jaw with ongoing pain, you should see a dentist. It is possible that the jaw may be fractured, or the joint. If you can bite and find that your teeth come together, it is unlikely that the jaw is broken, but there may be a hairline crack.

Whenever there is trauma to a tooth, it is possible that root reabsorption may occur. This means that the tooth gets rejected and the body starts to reabsorb it. In order to determine if this is occurring, a few visits to the dentist are needed for a checkup on the tooth or teeth involved.

The dentists at Amazing Smile Dental NY, located in the Forest Hills area of Queens, New York, can help you when you experience traumatic injuries. Our friendly and professional dentists are trained to handle emergencies and to provide pain-free dentistry for all members of the family. Call us today at (718) 674-6478 to make an appointment.