Children between the ages of two and three are most at risk for dental trauma. Children in this age group are in the developmental stages of their fine motor skills, making falls and accidental collisions quite common. Dental trauma involving adult teeth generally result from injury caused by falls, motor vehicle accidents, and contact sports however; all sporting activities pose a high risk for dental trauma for any age group.
When dental trauma occurs, it can be quite frightening for everyone involved. It is best to try to remain calm and follow these guidelines for managing dental trauma until you can see Dr. Ethan Zuker at Chestermere Station Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics:
Broken Teeth
When a tooth breaks it is very important, if possible, to collect as many tooth fragments as possible. Dr. Zuker will look at the remaining tooth structure and compare it with the fragments in order to make sure nothing is embedded in the lip of soft tissue inside the mouth. Another concern Dr. Zuker is looking for is the aspiration of the broken fragments. In some cases, your dentist might be able to reattach the broken fragment.
When to See Dr. Zuker: If there is pain that doesn't go away after using over-the-counter pain medications and/or there is bleeding from the tooth or the tissues inside the mouth, see your dentist right away. If there is not any pain or visible trauma, see your dentist within one week of the accident.
Knocked Out Teeth
Having a tooth knocked out can be very scary for anyone, especially a child. Remain calm and locate the tooth immediately. If the tooth is an adult tooth, you will want to rinse it off in cold water, and insert it back into the socket within 5 minutes of the trauma occurring. Baby teeth that are knocked out should NOT be replanted into the socket as this can cause permanent damage to the developing adult teeth. There is also the risk of the child aspirating or swallowing the tooth, which could also lead to choking.
If you are unable to implant the tooth back into the socket, it is very important to prevent the tooth from drying out. Place the tooth in a small container of cold milk however, if milk is not available, place the tooth in a container with a small amount of the person’s saliva. Cold water should be the last option if nothing else is available. If the tooth is knocked out during a sporting event, inquire with their first-aide to see if they have a product called Viaspan or Hank’s Balanced Solution as these products are highly recommended for storing a tooth that has been knocked out.
When to See Dr. Zuker: Call our office immediately or head to an emergency department to have the tooth treated.
Loose and Malpositioned Teeth
Teeth that have been hit do not always fall out of the mouth. What ends up happening is something called subluxation. Subluxation is an injury to both the tooth and the tissues that support the teeth. What takes place is essentially the loosening the ligaments that support the tooth, causing it to move around and in some cases, changing its position in the mouth.
When to See Dr. Zuker: If the teeth are loose or out of their normal position, the person will know because the way their teeth bite together will change. Contact our office as soon as possible if this is the case. Dr. Zuker might choose to reposition and splint the teeth back into place. He will also look for any chips or cracks that may have occurred.
Soft Tissue Injuries
The head and neck have many blood vessels so when there is trauma to the mouth, there appears to be a lot of bleeding. To stop bleeding, apply pressure to the area with gauze or a clean piece of fabric. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, seek care at an emergency room or contact your dentist. In some cases, stitches might be require however it is very uncommon. If there is swelling, using a cold compress will help to reduce swelling and provide pain relief.
When to See Dr. Zuker: If bleeding doesn't stop after applying pressure it is best to see medical attention.
It is important to note that regardless of the injury, if at any time the person loses consciousness, has a change in personality, becomes very tired, feels dizzy, or has nausea or vomiting, seek medical attention right away to rule out a head injury or concussion.
Prevention
Unfortunately, dental trauma is very common. There are ways to help reduce the risk of a traumatic injury to the mouth such as:
- Wearing a custom mouthguard: a custom mouthguard is used to protect the upper teeth from trauma, primarily during sports. Custom mouthguards made by your dental office allow the person to breathe much easier, as opposed to the boil-and-bite versions you can find in sporting goods stores.
- Wearing a helmet with a full-face guard: When riding a bicycle, most dental injuries occur when the person's face hits the handlebars. A full-face guard will stop the teeth from hitting the handle bars, thus lessening the injury.
Accidents are going to happen no matter how careful we are. It is beneficial to talk to your kids about being safe when out playing but sometimes encouraging kids to exercise caution during riskier activities is your best form of prevention. Just keep in mind that if dental trauma does occur, do not hesitate in contacting Chestermere Station Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics if your child experiences dental trauma.
