Dental Trauma Emergency Medicine
in Tooele

Your head isn’t the only part of your body that can receive a concussion. A tooth concussion is perhaps the mildest injury your mouth can receive, but it is still considered dental trauma if the concussion is severe. Dental concussions occur when a tooth is hit with significant force, but the tooth remains whole and with enough periodontal ligament support to stay inside its socket. A concussed tooth will not normally require emergency treatment, but it can result in temporary or permanent discoloration. If the tooth turns a dark color or black, this may mean that the tooth is dying and requires immediate endodontic care.

Chipped teeth are another less severe dental injury. Many chips can be repaired with a simple filling and cap. However, if a fracture is extreme it may extend to the roots, exposing the pulp of the tooth. A root canal treatment is usually required to save and restore function to the tooth.

With this type of trauma, the tooth is not entirely removed from the socket. Instead, it has been dislodged most likely as a result of being pushed sideways out of or into its socket. In order to save the tooth, endodontic treatment is necessary to reposition and stabilize the tooth. If the pulp of the tooth has been damaged a root canal must be started in addition to medication followed by a permanent root canal filling or crown placed at a later date.

When a tooth is avulsed, it means that it has been knocked entirely out of its socket. Some of the tooth root may remain in the socket if it has been fractured. The tooth may be saved if treatment and dental trauma emergency medicine are received quickly after critical steps are followed. Pick up the tooth by the biting surface, do not touch the roots, and gently rinse. If possible, place the tooth back into the socket or in a glass of milk in order to prevent it from drying out. Depending on the length of time the tooth was out and how it was stored, an endodontist may be able to replace the tooth and stabilize it with a splint. After the splint has been in place for a period of time a root canal will be necessary.

A horizontal root fracture is less common and the healing success largely depends on where the fracture is located. The closer a fracture is to the tip of the root, the greater the chance of success is. Stabilization and medication may be required to begin the healing process followed by the eventual root canal to repair damaged pulp.