Preventing Tooth Loss from Oral Injury

General dentistry services help to preserve the strength of the teeth so that they remain sturdy and durable. While this is beneficial, the unfortunate fact is that the teeth can be damaged in an accident. Because tooth loss and oral injury are linked, our Salt Lake City, UT practice urges patients to seek immediate dental care following a serious oral injury. The experienced team of dentists at Eagle Gate Dental may be able to save a tooth that has been seriously injured, or offer appropriate restorative dentistry treatment in the event that a tooth cannot be saved.

Common Causes of Oral Injury

An oral injury can range in severity. An oral injury may describe something as minor as a small chip or crack, or something more serious, such as the complete dislodging of a tooth. These injuries are sudden, unexpected, and often the result of direct trauma to a tooth. Below are some common causes of oral injury:

• Biting down on a hard food or non-food item
• Falling
• A blow to the face
• Sports injury
• Automobile accident

Again, depending on the severity of the injury, the tooth can suffer a wide range of damages. No matter how minor or severe an injury may appear to be, it is important to seek professional dental care following an oral injury.

What to Do after an Oral Injury

Early treatment is key to preventing tooth loss following an oral injury. If the injury is severe and a tooth has been completely knocked out, the patient must seek emergency dental care. To preserve the dislodged tooth, patients should take the following steps:

• Collect the tooth, handling it only by its crown
• Clean the tooth in milk or saline
• Make sure the tooth does not dry out
• Place the tooth back in the gum socket
• Hold the tooth in place by biting down on a soft cloth
• Schedule an emergency dental appointment

While more serious injuries are considered a dental emergency and require immediate treatment, even seemingly minor injuries could pose a threat to the overall health of the teeth and should be examined by one of our dentists as soon as possible. Similarly, even if it appears as though the teeth have not been injured at all, it is important to monitor the situation following an oral injury. Oftentimes, even if the outer tooth has remained intact, the pulp of the tooth (its inner nerves) can be damaged to the point that they are considered non-vital. It can take several days for symptoms of a dead tooth (tooth darkening and pain) to develop.

Treating Tooth Loss

In most cases, if treatment is sought right away, tooth loss can be prevented following an oral injury. However, in the event that a tooth is lost, there are many restorative treatments available to rebuild the smile, including dental bridges, dentures, and dental implants. Our dentists can discuss these treatment options with our patients to find the dental solution that most closely meets their specific needs.

Contact Us

An oral injury is one of the leading causes of tooth loss, but with effective dental care, even an injured tooth can often be saved. To learn more about the restorative dentistry services available at Eagle Gate Dental, contact us at your earliest convenience.