Dealing with Dental Trauma: Steps to Take Immediately After an Injury

Dealing with Dental Trauma: Steps to Take Immediately After an Injury

October 1, 2024

Damaging a tooth, whether it’s a small chip or a complete loss, can be a stressful experience. If you experience injury to your gums or jaw, seeking prompt dental care is essential to limit the damage and increase your chances of a successful recovery. 

Understanding Dental Trauma

A blow to the mouth can cause dental trauma, which affects your teeth, gums, and jawbone, including:

  • Falls and accidents
  • Sports injuries
  • Fights or altercations
  • Chewing on hard objects
  • Use of improper dental tools

The severity of dental trauma can vary significantly. Minor injuries might involve chipped enamel or loosened teeth, while more severe cases can involve completely knocked-out teeth, fractured jaws, or damaged nerves. 

Immediate Steps to Take

If you experience a dental injury, the following steps are crucial:

  • Stay Calm: Take a moment to collect yourself. Breathe deeply and then see what’s going on.
  • Control Bleeding: If there’s any bleeding in your mouth, use a clean cloth to hold it gently against the area.
  • Locate the Injured Tooth: If a tooth is knocked out, find it if possible.
  • Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth Carefully: Pick up the Tooth by the crown (the white part) and avoid touching the root. Rinse the Tooth gently with clean water, but don’t scrub it.
  • Reimplant the Tooth (if possible): Try to reimplant the tooth back into its socket gently. If unable to reimplant, store the Tooth in milk or a saline solution (if available) on the way to the dentist. 

What to Avoid

Here are some things to avoid after a dental injury:

  • Touching the Root of a Knocked-Out Tooth can damage the sensitive root surface and complicate treatment.
  • Rubbing or Manipulating a Loose Tooth: Leave it undisturbed and seek professional dental care immediately.
  • Putting hot or cold packs right on an injury might actually make swelling and pain worse.
  • Delaying Dental Care: Seek emergency dental care immediately, even for minor injuries. 

Emergency Dental Care

Time is critical when dealing with dental trauma. Seeking emergency dental care within an hour of injury significantly improves the chances of successful treatment, especially for knocked-out teeth. Dental at the Met offers emergency dental services to address various dental trauma situations.

Here’s what to expect during an emergency dental visit:

  • Examination: The dentist in South Calgary will scrutinize your mouth to evaluate the extent of the injury and check for any underlying damage.
  • X-rays: X-rays might be necessary to evaluate the Tooth’s root structure and assess any jawbone damage.
  • Treatment: What’s done to fix the problem will depend on how bad the mouth injury is. For knocked-out teeth, reimplantation might be attempted. Chipped or cracked teeth might require bonding or crowns. Loose teeth might need splinting for stabilization.
  • Pain Management: The dentist will provide pain medication to manage any discomfort.
  • Follow-up Care: Line-up appointments will be scheduled to monitor healing and ensure proper recovery. 

Long-Term Recovery and Follow-Up

The healing process after dental trauma can vary depending on the severity of the injury. For optimal recovery, it is crucial to follow your dentist’s instructions for medication, oral hygiene, and dietary modifications.

Regular follow-up appointments with Dental at the Met are essential to ensure proper healing, monitor the Tooth’s health, and address potential complications. Depending on the long-term health of the injured Tooth, additional treatment like root canal therapy or crowns might be necessary. 

Finding the Right Dentist

Choosing an experienced emergency dentist in SW Calgary is crucial. Here are some factors to consider:

  • Emergency Availability: Look for a dentist who offers emergency appointments to ensure prompt treatment after an injury.
  • Experience: Choose a dentist with experience treating various types of dental trauma.
  • Location: Consider the proximity of the dentist’s office to your location, especially if you experience a sudden injury. 

Conclusion

Dental trauma can be a stressful experience, but prompt action and seeking an emergency dentist near you can minimize damage and improve the chances of successful treatment. Dental at the Met is committed to providing prompt and effective care for dental emergencies in South Calgary. If you experience a dental injury, contact us immediately to schedule an emergency appointment.

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