My teeth are severely damaged after a car accident. Should I wait to get braces until my bite is sorted? Are braces suitable for traumatised teeth?

Q. Dear Dr. Verma, I was recently hit by a car and sustained various injuries, including on my front teeth. One of the front teeth has moved inwards and has a crease on the surface.  My dentist cannot ascertain whether it is just a crease in the enamel or a deeper one. From the x-rays taken, it does not appear that the two front teeth affected are dead, but I have been told by my dentist that the one that has been hit the most may well fall in the future. To make matters worse, because the front teeth have moved, I am unable to bite properly.  I have done a lot of research online and am aware there are various ways to straighten my teeth, including Damon braces, Inman aligners, invisalign etc.  Is it advisable to use braces/aligners on traumatised teeth?  Is there a period of time I should wait before I can do so?  Would you recommend that I have a root canal and a crown at the first instance to get my bite sorted?  Is there a way I can strengthen the enamel of my front teeth, i.e. enamel coating etc?  What would you advise is the best course of action?  Many thanks for your time and help.,
A. Dear Enquirer, Oh dear…I do hope you are ok after your accident.It is common for me to see patients in my practice that have sustained injury to their front teeth after an accident, so you’re not the only one. I’m assuming what you mean by the word crease is what I would term a fracture. Sometimes you can get superficial fracture lines in your teeth that do not necessarily require any further treatment. If the fracture was deeper, you would know about it as it would show up on an xray or your tooth would have split. The teeth that have been affected by trauma may or may not need further nerve treatment in the future if they cause symptoms as the nerves can show up damage a while after an accident. I would suggest you monitor the situation and if you are not in pain and the teeth are not tender then that’s a good sign. You may need root treatment in the affected teeth if symptoms show up, not to correct the bite, as you have suggested. Medium term you can get braces to straighten the teeth or you can have porcelain restorations on the teeth to give a straight appearance. The timing of treatment depends on the symptoms you are feeling and the xray reports over regular intervals, so that the braces/porcelain restorations are completed at the correct time for the best long term prognosis of the affected teeth. I hope this helps and all the best with your treatment.If you are in the London area do give me a call so I can assess you thoroughly and find a way forward. I would be happy to be of assistance. Sunita
Dr Sunita Verma Sparkle Dental Boutique 311 Boston Road, Hanwell, London, W7 2AT Web: www.sparkledentalboutique.co.uk Tel: 020 8567 4344 View My Profile Dr Verma
April 29th, 2011 at 08:47 PM
Jackson Says :

i was wondering if a dr at a hospital emergncy room can pull teeth if its hurting the person to badly .,

April 29th, 2011 at 08:47 PM
Rebecca Says :

As far as I am aware of you would be given pain relief and referrred on. the equipment is not avaialable in A&E departmnts

May 3rd, 2011 at 08:47 PM
Dawson Says :

Is there any chance in putting a tooth back in as i had it punched out?its the front one

May 3rd, 2011 at 08:47 PM
Irene Says :

The answer is yes if on the same day. The longer it is left out the more likely it will not take.

December 13th, 2012 at 08:47 PM
Manish Bhaskar Says :

Dear Doctor,
I met with an accident on this sunday, lost my upper front teeth and got 8 stitches on my lips.
Now I am recovering well,but i am finding that my 4-5 teeth are a bit shaking.Do they are also damaged or they are shaking because of accident.
Please help me i am in tension.Right now I cann’t go to dentist until my stitches are cut down.

March 26th, 2013 at 08:47 PM
Adeel Says :

hey i had an accident yesterday i was playing cricket that time My friend and I collide with each other.my one front teeth has inwards i went to doctor she said that just keep it like that and wait .now what should i do.

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