Dental Trauma And Dental Injury: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment

What Is Dental Trauma?

What is dental trauma? Dental trauma or dental injury definition can be explained as damage to the teeth, gums, jaw, or surrounding oral tissues. Dental injury can affect both children and adults and may occur for a variety of reasons, such as accidents, sports, or violence. Common injuries range from minor chips to serious tooth displacement or loss. These injuries may be associated with pain, swelling, bleeding, infection, and other serious health consequences. Dental trauma is considered a dental emergency and should be addressed by a dental professional immediately to avoid permanent damage and complications.

Common Causes Of Dental Trauma

The most frequent causes of dental trauma are a result of an accident, including falls, sports injuries, car wrecks, or biting into hard objects. Physical impact or trauma may also result in dental injury, especially to the upper front teeth. In many cases, dental injury can be prevented by implementing protective measures and avoiding harmful habits. Wear your seatbelt in vehicles and ensure your environment is easy to navigate without hazards to prevent accidental falls. Sports injuries can be easily prevented by wearing a custom-fit mouthguard provided by your dental professional and proper safety equipment. It is also easy to prevent damage to teeth by avoiding biting hard objects such as ice, candy, popcorn kernels, bottles, or pens. Teeth should not be used to open packages, bite nails, or for other purposes not related to chewing food, which can lead to tooth chips, dislodgement, or loss. Some tooth injury causes can be challenging to prevent or prepare for, such as unexpected physical harm, unavoidable falls, or other accidents.

Types Of Dental Trauma

Tooth trauma is often categorized based on the severity of the injury, ranging from mild to severe. Mild dental trauma may be simply monitored by your dental professional and not require treatment. Moderate to severe dental trauma usually requires prompt treatment, which is personalized to your exact needs. Any type of dental trauma should be evaluated by your dental professional right away to prevent long-term complications. Here’s what you need to know about the common types of dental trauma:

Chipped Or Fractured Teeth

Small chips or fractures that only extend into the outer enamel layer of the tooth is usually regarded as mild dental trauma. A chipped tooth with damage that has extended into the inner dentin and pulpal layers of the teeth may be associated with tooth pain and sensitivity and often requires more extensive treatment for tooth repair.

Cracked Teeth

Superficial cracks that only extend into the enamel layer, also referred to as hairline cracks or craze lines, are typically harmless and may only require dental monitoring. Cracks that extend into the root or inner layers of the tooth impact the structural integrity of the tooth and are considered a moderate to severe dental issue. A deeper cracked tooth requires prompt professional treatment to avoid tooth loss and other oral health consequences.

Dislodged Or Luxated Teeth

Teeth that become pushed out of their normal position but remain within the jawbone are considered a moderate to severe dental injury. You may experience pain, tenderness, bleeding, and tooth mobility. Immediate dental evaluation is critical to help improve the chance of tooth survival.

Knocked-Out Tooth (Avulsed Tooth)

A knocked-out tooth, or avulsed tooth, is classified as severe dental trauma. A tooth that is completely removed from the mouth requires immediate treatment by a dental professional to prevent tooth loss.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Injury to the soft tissue, such as lips, gums, cheeks, or tongue, can be mild, moderate, or severe depending on the extent of damage. Your dentist can determine appropriate treatment for any cuts, bruises, or damage to soft tissues.

Jaw Or Bone Injuries

Severe trauma to the jawbone or facial structure can be life-threatening and requires urgent medical attention. If you suspect a fracture to the upper or lower jaw, jaw dislocation, or other damage to teeth and jawbone, seek emergency care immediately. Common symptoms include severe pain, excessive bleeding or swelling, misaligned teeth, and facial changes.

Symptoms And Warning Signs Of Dental Trauma

There are several dental trauma symptoms and tooth injury signs to watch out for that require prompt evaluation by a dental professional. Some signs and symptoms will be clearly visible, while others may be hidden or delayed. Even mild symptoms should be evaluated immediately to prevent further issues and protect your oral health and overall well-being.

Common Visible Signs and Symptoms:

• Chipped, cracked, or fractured teeth
• Excessive bleeding or swelling of gums or surrounding tissues
• Tooth mobility
• Tooth displacement or complete removal out of socket
• Visible tooth damage
• Visible cuts or damage to the gums, lips, tongue, or cheeks

Hidden or Delayed Signs and Symptoms:

• Tooth discoloration (i.e., grey, yellow, or brown)
• Tooth sensitivity and pain
• Root fracture, requiring dental X-rays to detect
• Trouble biting, chewing, or opening/closing the mouth
• pimple-like bump on gums (dental abscess)
• Numbness or tingling sensation in the teeth, gums, or soft tissues

Why Dental Trauma Requires Prompt Treatment?

Tooth injury is serious and requires timely evaluation and treatment to protect your health. Untreated dental injury can lead to serious long-term health consequences. For instance, dental trauma complications can include severe pain, infection, functional issues (i.e., trouble chewing and speaking), nerve damage, root resorption, bone loss, and tooth loss if not treated promptly. Immediate treatment of dental trauma increases the likelihood of tooth survival and reduces the risks of complications and the need for more complex and costly treatments.

What To Do Immediately After Dental Trauma?

It’s important to keep simple dental emergency steps in mind in case of an emergency. Immediately after experiencing dental trauma, one of the first steps should be to remain calm and assess the situation. Apply quick first aid if necessary, while contacting your dentist immediately. Rinse your mouth gently with water. If bleeding, apply pressure to the affected area with clean gauze. You may also use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Avoid chewing or biting on the affected side to prevent further damage. If recommended by your dental professional, take over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen to help manage symptoms.

Save any fragments of teeth that are chipped or cracked if possible, and store them in milk or saliva when transporting them with you. Knocked-out tooth first aid may also gently involve reinserting the tooth into the socket if possible, while making your way to the dentist. The tooth should only be handled by the crown and can be stored in milk or saliva if unable to reinsert it back into your mouth while heading to your dentist. Immediate dental care is critical to improve the chance of saving your tooth. If experiencing uncontrollable bleeding, extreme swelling, difficulty breathing, or a suspected broken jaw, head to the emergency room immediately.

How Dentists Diagnose Dental Trauma?

A dental trauma diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a dental professional. After reviewing your medical/dental history and symptoms, they will assess your hard and soft tissues visually and perform specific tests to aid in diagnosis and treatment planning. Your bite and jaw function will be evaluated for abnormalities, as well as your teeth tested for mobility and sensitivity. A dental x-ray injury can be evaluated that was not visible clinically, such as root and jaw fractures, tooth displacement, infection, and bone loss.

Dental Trauma Treatment Options

Dental trauma treatment can vary depending on the type and severity. Your dentist will create a personalized treatment plan and explain all options based on your exact needs. Continue reading below to learn more about common dental trauma treatment options:

Dental Bonding

Minor trauma to a tooth, such as superficial enamel chips or fractures are commonly treated with dental bonding. Chipped tooth treatment involves using a tooth-colored composite resin to restore the tooth’s shape and function. In some cases, a broken fragment that is saved properly can be bonded back onto the tooth.

Dental Crowns

Teeth with moderate to severe damage may require dental crowns. Dental crowns for injury are used to restore the tooth’s function and appearance. A dental crown is a full-coverage cap that is placed to protect the tooth from further structural damage.

Root Canal Treatment

Severe trauma, such as extensive fractures and tooth dislodgment, may require root canal treatment to help save the tooth. Root canal therapy removes damaged/infected pulp tissue from within the tooth’s root to prevent further damage.

Tooth Repositioning And Stabilization

Teeth that are dislodged from the socket may be repositioned by a dental professional and secured to neighboring teeth for a couple of weeks using a dental splint. This allows the tooth to stabilize and heal.

Tooth Replacement Options

If a tooth is able to be saved, replacement is essential to protect your oral health. Tooth replacement options commonly include implants, bridges, or removable partial dentures. Teeth replacement can help prevent teeth from shifting and restore the functionality and appearance of your smile. Dental implants, which are fixed into the jawbone, can also help prevent bone loss.

Dental Trauma In Children Vs Adults

There are several key differences between children and adults when it comes to dental trauma. Children commonly experience dental trauma as a result of falling or accidents while playing. Adult injuries are primarily caused by sports injuries and vehicular accidents. In children, the jawbone is still developing and is more flexible, often resulting in tooth displacement rather than tooth fractures like in adults.

Dental trauma in children can also differ from adults in terms of management and treatment. If a baby tooth is dislodged or knocked out, it should not be repositioned or replanted. When dental trauma occurs in baby teeth, professional monitoring is common to evaluate the health of the developing permanent teeth. Other treatments, like space maintainer appliances, may be recommended if baby teeth are lost prematurely due to trauma. On the other hand, adult tooth injury treatment typically focuses on restoring permanent teeth to increase their chance of survival. Dental trauma in children and adults should be evaluated immediately by a healthcare professional to prevent serious complications.

Preventing Dental Trauma

Preventing dental trauma is easy when maintaining a proactive mindset. If participating in contact sports, be sure you are wearing proper safety equipment such as custom-fit mouthguards, helmets, and facemasks. Mouthguards for teeth can be custom-made by your dental professional. Be sure to always wear your seatbelt when in the car for safety. Keep walkways clear to prevent falls and accidents from occurring. Maintain healthy habits to prevent dental trauma, including visiting your dentist regularly for check-ups, eating healthy, and daily brushing and flossing. Avoid harmful lifestyle choices like chewing hard foods (i.e., ice, pens, hard candy) or using teeth as tools to open bottles, bite nails, or tear packaging. Speak with your dentist for guidance on preventing dental trauma and protecting your teeth to ensure they last a lifetime.

When To See A Dentist For Dental Trauma?

You may be questioning when to see a dentist for a tooth injury. Dental emergency care is needed immediately for any dental trauma to prevent long-term complications. Common dental emergencies that require prompt attention include cracked, chipped, or fractured teeth, dislodged or completely knocked-out teeth, excessive bleeding or swelling, severe oral pain, bite issues after physical injury, and soft tissue damage. If you suspect a broken or fractured jaw, head injury, or are having trouble breathing or swallowing, go to the emergency room (ER) immediately. Whether experiencing minor, moderate, or severe injury, seek professional care immediately for evaluation and guidance.

How Great Lakes Family Dental Group Can Help With Dental Trauma?

Everyone needs a dental trauma dentist that they can trust. Great Lakes Family Dental Group offers compassionate, comfortable, and reliable same-day emergency appointments. Great Lakes Family Dental Group's dental emergency specialists are experienced in emergency and restorative care to help you at any time of need. Using advanced diagnostics and technology, our dental professionals provide exceptional personalized dental care for you and your entire family. Contact one of our conveniently located offices today for more information about our emergency services!