Oral Trauma
Trauma to Teeth
After a tooth is traumatized, the following situations can occur
• No apparent damage to the tooth
• The tooth becomes loose
• Crown fracture
• Root fracture
• Tooth dislocation
• Intrusion of the tooth
• Avulsion of the tooth (the entire tooth being knocked off)
Management after injury
• Go for a detailed check-up at the dental clinic immediately after the injury.
The dentist will give the following treatment according to the situation: smoothen
sharp edges of the fractured tooth and apply topical fluoride,
filling, pulp(Endodontic) treatment,
crown, extraction or
denture.
• Although there might not be any apparent damage to the teeth after the injury,
pulp necrosis may occur. Even if the tooth is vital right after the injury, it is
possible that necrosis can happen within 5 years. Therefore, it is necessary to
have follow-up reviews regularly as advised by the dentist.
• If the crown of tooth has been fractured, you should try your best
to find and pick up the fractured portion of the tooth and go to a dentist immediately.
If the whole permanent tooth has been knocked off after the injury, you should keep
calm and take the following actions:
• Pick up the knocked-off tooth. Holding the crown without touching the root
• Use half a glass of plain water or milk to gently rinse off the dirt at the
surface of tooth. Do not wash or scrub the root of tooth to avoid damaging the soft
tissues around the root.
• Use the adjacent teeth as a reference, put the tooth back into the socket
and gently bite your teeth to hold the tooth in place. The sooner the tooth is put
pack, the greater the chance of it being preserved.
• If there is any difficulty in inserting the tooth into the socket, immerse
the tooth in a container filled with either milk or saliva of the injured person.
• Seek treatment from dentist immediately
You should seek help immediately after oral structure or tooth injury because the
sooner the treatment is received, the greater the chance of preserving the teeth.
Afterwards, the replanted tooth should be reviewed by the dentist regularly to ensure
the success of the treatment.