If you experience a dental emergency, contact your dentist right away. Severe pain or bleeding requires immediate attention. For example, if your tooth has been knocked out, seeing a dentist as soon as possible offers the best chance for restoring your smile. Should an emergency situation occur in the future, understanding the different types of dental traumas will help.
Dental trauma services offered by Columbia Smiles will help return your smile back to normal. Contact us at 410.690.4855 to schedule an appointment.
What Is Dental Trauma?
Dental trauma involves any kind of injury to the mouth. Often the result of a sports injury or accident, dental trauma can lead to more complicated oral health issues if you don’t see a dentist right away.
Common types of traumatic dental injuries include:
- Chipped teeth
- Broken or dislodged teeth
- Soft tissue injuries, such as a cut on your gums or the inside of your cheek
Chipped teeth are the most common type of dental trauma. Over time, wear and tear or poor oral hygiene habits can make the teeth more susceptible to chipping or breaking.
Broken or dislodged teeth are less common and are likely to occur as a result of a serious accident or blow to the mouth. If your permanent tooth is loose, you see a crack on the surface of your tooth, or your tooth has completely come out of its socket, it’s important to contact a dentist right away. Neighboring teeth may have also suffered trauma which you may not be able to see. Your dentist has the training and tools to evaluate these situations, preventing further damage.
When to Reach Out for Dental Trauma Services
Uncontrollable bleeding or severe pain can require a trip to the emergency room, rather than the dentist. Otherwise, contact your dentist right away to find out what services might be needed to restore your smile.
If you’re not bleeding or in pain, it can be easy to delay a visit to your dentist. However, waiting until your next regular visit to address the dental trauma may leave you susceptible to tooth decay or infection. Additionally, many individuals feel less confident in their smiles when they have a chipped, broken, or missing tooth. Seeing your dentist right after a dental injury is the best course of action you can take.
If your tooth is loose or dislodged in its socket, it’s possible that gum disease is to blame. Your dentist can treat gum disease or treat a dislodged tooth, correcting the issue and allowing you to begin the healing process.
A knocked-out tooth can often be successfully placed back into its socket. An emergency visit to a dentist is necessary in this situation. Returning the tooth back into its socket, or keeping it in milk, while you make your way to the dentist will increase the chances of restoring the tooth. If a tooth cannot be successfully placed back in the socket, your dentist will advise you of your options. They may suggest dental crowns, bridges, or implants as a suitable option for your tooth replacement.
Find Help at Columbia Smiles
Contact Columbia Smiles today to make an appointment for dental trauma services or to schedule a regular cleaning and exam. We have been trusted by Howard County residents for over 35 years, and we’ll help you keep your teeth and gums healthy.
If you have recently experienced dental trauma in Maryland, we can help. We offer a wide array of services to help restore your smile, including:
- Repairs for chipped teeth, including natural-looking bonding
- Solutions for tooth and enamel fractures
- Crown replacement
- Dental bridge restoration
- Root canals
- Repairs for dislocated or knocked-out teeth
Reach out to our team at 410.690.4855 or contact us online. At Columbia Smiles, you’ll find quality care and remarkable results.
