- Chipped or fractured teeth:
These are the most common traumatic dental injuries. Yet they are the simplest. The treatment depends on the severity of the injury. If the chipped part is small. It can be repaired with a tooth colored restoration. sometimes, the chipped part can be reattached to the tooth if possible. However, if the chipped part is more significant, the tooth should be repaired by a crown to be protected. It also may require a follow up with an endodontist as the tooth may need root canal treatment in the future.
Sometimes, the pulp may be exposed or damaged. In this case, root canal treatment is required. If the patient experiences pain when breathing through the mouth or drinking or drinking cold fluids, have him/her bite on a clean moist gauze to help relieve the symptoms till the patient reports to the dental office. Never use topical oral pain medications like sprays, gels or ointments.
- Root Fractures:
Traumatic dental injuries may cause horizontal root fracture.The position of the fracture in the root determines the long- term prognosis of healing for this tooth. The closer the fracture line to the crown the worse the prognosis. Sometimes, splinting the tooth with the adjacent teeth is required, as in the Avulsed tooth.
One of the cases I will never forget, is that patient who was in his thirties. He was referred from his dentist to pull out his front tooth. The tooth had a horizontal root fracture that was discovered accidentally by routine x-rays. The patient mentioned a history of trauma long time ago when he was a kid. He also mentioned he never reported to the dentist. Tooth was asymptomatic. The x-rays show complete healing of the bone around the broken root segment. All what we did was dismissing him, and asking him for a follow up every year.
With all my wishes of a safe happy life free from injuries ..
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