Dental Trauma

What is Dental Trauma?

The term dental trauma refers to any injury to the mouth; this includes injuries to the jawbone, teeth, gums, lips and the tongue.

Examples of Dental Trauma

The most common experience of dental trauma is breaking a tooth or having a tooth knocked out. Teeth can also be displaced, fractured or pushed-up. Other common examples include damage to the soft tissues; these include tears, cuts, bruises and burns. Dislocated and broken jawbones also come under the heading of dental trauma.

Treatment of Dental Trauma

Dental trauma can be particularly frightening for children; they should therefore be comforted and reassured constantly in the event of an accident. If a tooth is knocked out or broken a cold compress should be applied to the affected area as soon as possible. You should hold onto the tooth by the crown if it is still whole and place it in a glass of milk or water; having done this, you should arrange an appointment with the dentist as quickly as possible. Dentists are often able to re-attach the tooth if the tooth is whole; if a piece of tooth has been knocked out or chipped, the dentist may also be able to return the piece to its original place. If the tooth has been severely damaged the dentist may suggest a dental bridge or an implant to replace the missing tooth.

In the case of tissue injuries, cold compresses should be applied to cuts to stem the bleeding. If the cut is particularly deep it may require stitches. If the lip is split it may be possible to stop the bleeding by applying a cold compress; if the lip is torn you will need to go to accident and emergency in order to get it stitched up. Broken jawbones need to be set back to their original position as quickly as possible to prevent pain and swelling; you should see an emergency dentist immediately who will re-set the jaw and prescribe pain-killers. Burns should be doused in cold water; if there is material such as clothing attached to the skin, do not attempt to remove it. Dental trauma can sometimes result in shock; this should be treated by keeping the individual’s head low and raising the legs, which increases blood flow to the brain.

Causes of Dental Trauma

In children, the most common cause of dental trauma is tripping or falling while adult injuries are often caused by sports injuries, falling, eating hard and chewy foods such as toffee and fighting.

Preventing Dental Trauma

In order to prevent dental trauma, ensure that there are no obvious obstacles in the home, such as items on the stairs which are easy to trip over. Stair gates are recommended for very young children and it is advisable to cover all sharp corners and edges with protective material. With regard to sports, make sure you wear a protective gum shield for contact sports such as rugby or for sports where balls travel fast and can be flicked up such as hockey or lacrosse. In the car, children should be properly secured in car seat and seat belts should be worn at all times.

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