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Dental trauma is any injury to any part of the mouth, such as the
teeth, lips, gums, tongue, and jawbones. Sports, car accidents,
physical fights, hard foods, and too-hot liquids are all potential
causes of dental traumas. Broken or knocked-out teeth are the most
common mouth injury.
The symptoms of dental trauma depend on the type of injury. Soft tissue injuries, such as cuts, burns or bruises to the lips, inner cheeks or tongue can result in pain, redness, swelling and possible bleeding. Broken teeth result in sharp edges that can potentially cut the soft tissue. Depending on the type of fracture, broken teeth may also result in toothache. A tooth that has been knocked out, or evulsed, will leave a swollen, painful and bloody socket. A broken jawbone can lead to malocclusion (improper fit of the upper and lower teeth), jaw pain and limited movement in the temporomandibular joint, the joint that opens and closes the mouth.
A dentist can easily recognize signs of trauma in the mouth. He or she may x-ray the mouth to detemine the extent of the damage. The sensitivity of the oral tissues means that mouth traumas tend to be painful, so prompt treatment of suspected traumas is recommended.
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The type of treatment, too, depends on the type of injury.
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For
soft tissue injuries:
· Reduce swelling with cold compresses
· Control bleeding by putting pressure with a clean gauze
· Stitches can help deep punctures or lacerations
· Painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen can reduce pain
For broken teeth:
· Immediately rinse the injured tooth and surrounding gums
with warm water to remove dirt
· Cover the area with a cold compress to lessen swelling
and pain
· Save any pieces of the broken tooth. If an entire tooth
has been knocked out, hold it by the crown (outer area), not the
root.
· Keep the tooth moist. Place it in milk, cool water, or
saliva.
· See a dentist as soon as possible, preferably within thirty
minutes. The sooner your dentist treats the problem, the better
the chances of salvaging the tooth.
· If the pulp, or inner core, of a chipped tooth is still
intact, the dentist can smooth out the chipped area and replace
the missing section with a resin filling.
· If you have saved the missing piece of tooth, it may be
possible to bond it back into place.
· If the pulp is in tact but a large part of the outer tooth
structure is missing, the dentist can protect the remaining parts
of the tooth by covering it with a gold or porcelain crown.
· If the pulp has been damaged, your tooth may need root
canal treatment followed by a protective crown.
For
broken jaws:
Dental trauma is highly preventable. To reduce the risk, do the
following:
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Wear seat belts in cars, and ensure young children are secured in
car seats
· Child-proof areas of your homes such as stairs, table edges,
and loose electircal wires
· Eliminate tripping hazards from your home and office
· Wear mouthguards during sports, especially contact sports
or any activity involving speed, potential falls, and potential
contact with a hard surface or piece of equipment (such as skateboarding,
in-line skating, and bicycling).
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