There are two primary causes for emergency dentistry: sudden and unexpected worsening of oral health concerns and dental trauma. This review specifically discusses the most common types of dental emergencies that are related to mouth trauma and provides an overview of how an emergency dentist can treat each concern.
The most common emergency dentistry mouth trauma types include a knocked out tooth, dislodged (loose) tooth, broken tooth, gum laceration, and lost tooth restoration. Often, these forms of mouth trauma are the result of a blow to the mouth or bruxism, although there are other possible causes of mouth trauma.
A knocked out tooth is one of the most common reasons for an emergency dentistry visit. This can happen as a result of a sporting accident, car wreck, or a nasty fall, among other possible causes. It is imperative to seek immediate care for a knocked out tooth to help ensure the most successful replacement for the tooth. In some cases, the natural tooth can be repositioned inside the socket to prevent tooth loss if immediate dental care is sought after.
A dislodged tooth occurs when a tooth is knocked out of the socket partially but has not fallen out of the mouth. Much like a knocked out tooth, this most commonly occurs as a result of dental trauma or bruxism. The emergency dentist can typically reposition the dislodged tooth in the socket. They may recommend a restoration such as a dental crown to strengthen the tooth. If the tooth is severely damaged, extraction and tooth replacement may be necessary.
A broken tooth such as a tooth chip or a crack can lead to severe discomfort and sensitivity, which makes it a dental emergency. In addition, the risk of oral infection is higher when a tooth is broken, so keeping the mouth clean and visiting the dentist as soon as possible is encouraged.
Tooth restorations can eventually fall out of the mouth. This can expose nerves and blood vessels, which subsequently can cause pain and sensitivity to develop. An emergency dentist can repair or replace both the natural tooth as well as the restoration.
An oral infection typically develops from poor oral hygiene rather than an oral infection, but it is still one of the most common types of dental emergencies. If left untreated, the tooth that is infected may need removal or fall out and there is an increased risk of the infection spreading.
It can be scary to endure mouth trauma and not know what to do next to minimize the discomfort and help ensure there are no worsening concerns. Our dental practice makes the emergency dentistry process easy for our patients, and we encourage you to call us today if you have suffered a blow to the mouth or another form of mouth trauma.
Request an appointment here: https://osinadds.com or call Tamara S. Osina, D.D.S. at (281) 532-8183 for an appointment in our Richmond office.
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