CD Everything You Need to Know About Dental Trauma

Everything You Need to Know About Dental Trauma

One fact about people’s teeth is that it doesn’t heal itself. That’s why dentists always remind children and adults alike never to skip dental appointments. Aside from that, proper dental hygiene practices are encouraged to ensure that your teeth are free of cavities. It is also essential to protect your mouth from any trauma. If you’ve hit the internet to look for a dental trauma definition, you’ve come to the right place!

What is a Dental Trauma?

Dental trauma is any injury to your mouth. This includes your teeth, lips, tongue, gums, and jawbone. These injuries require prompt treatment because the pain they cause is often intolerable. The seriousness of a dental problem will depend on whether it can be treated in a dental office or if an emergency visit to the hospital is necessary.

Although there are different types of dental trauma, the most common are chipped and loose teeth. If you have a chipped, broken, or loose tooth, go to the dentist. Your dentist may be able to address the problem without any expensive dental procedures. Know that waiting is not an option. The faster you get to the dentist, the better chances you have of restoring your teeth to their original state.

How to Manage Dental Trauma

If you can’t go to the dentist right then and there, here is a basic dental trauma guide:

For Knocked Out Tooth

Look for the tooth and pick it up. Always hold the tooth by the crown and not by the root. Wash it to remove any dirt. Try putting it back in the socket and biting down. Apply a cold compress to the area where the tooth was knocked out to manage the swelling. It is important that the tooth does not dry out. You can place it in a glass of water or a cup with a small amount of cold milk.

For Broken Tooth

Clean the area where the tooth broke and find the broken tooth. Use a cold compress if there’s any swelling. Depending on the severity of the damage, your teeth may be restored using a permanent crown. If the trauma is too severe, your dentist might recommend other solutions.

For Malpositioned Tooth

Using your finger, try to put light pressure on the tooth and move it back to its original position. Do not force it. You can also try biting down to keep the teeth from moving. Go to the dentist immediately for a permanent solution.

How to Prevent Dental Trauma

Now that you have an idea on the management of dental trauma, let’s move on to the prevention of these traumas:

  • Always wear seatbelts no matter how short your trip is. Make sure that kids are sitting in car seats.
  • Check if your home has any hazards that increase the chances of dental trauma happening.
  • Childproof your home. You can put gates across stairs, put pads on table edges, and manage all of your electrical wires to avoid tripping.
  • If you’re an athlete, always wear a mouthguard, especially if you play contact sports like wrestling, football, and boxing. Some non-contact sports that would require a mouthguard are skateboarding, skating, and cycling.

If you’ve recently suffered a trauma and you’re looking for a licensed dentist in Treasure Island, FL, Century Dental is here for you. We can provide you with dental emergency services. You can also rest assured that we will do everything to restore any of your teeth back to their functionality. Give us a call, and we’ll see what we can do for you!

Dr. Abdullah M. Allawnha

Dr. Abdullah M. Allawnha

Dr. Allawnha, born in New Orleans and raised in Windsor, Canada, earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Windsor. He worked as an ER nurse in Detroit, Michigan, before moving to Morgantown, West Virginia, to become a dentist. He completed his Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from West Virginia University School of Dentistry while still working as a nurse until he graduated.

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