Three Dental Injuries Necessitating Immediate Medical Attention
by Vernon Foster
Dental impact and general facial disturbance can result in serious injuries of the teeth and surrounding tissues. If you have sustained this type of damage, it is crucial for you to seek immediate medical attention to avoid escalation of the problem. The injury does not always have to involve pain in order to be treated as an emergency, although this is a common symptom. There are other symptoms and risks which indicate serious trauma, necessitating prompt treatment. Here is a brief description of the common injuries which should be treated as emergency problems.
Broken Tooth
The tooth structure is strong, but sudden impact can cause formation of fractures and cracks. In some cases, part of the tooth might break off completely. If the fracture or damage is localised in the upper layers of the teeth, you are unlikely to experience pain. However, if the injury is ignored, the crack could extend as you go on with your normal activities. Moreover, the dentist might be able to reattach the broken fragment. Therefore, you should seek immediate treatment. If you experience pain due to a broken or cracked tooth, then the internal structures and the pulp cavity have sustained damage. Without treatment, you are most likely to get a serious infection.
Avulsed Tooth
Your tooth can get knocked out of your mouth if your jaws experience high impact. This crude removal of the teeth often results in the damage of the tissues around the teeth, including blood vessels, nerves and bones. If you can consult a dentist for immediate treatment, the avulsed tooth can be re-installed in its socket, and the tissues will continue supporting it. It is advisable to call your doctor and ask for instructions on handling the situation. In ideal circumstances, you should collect the tooth and rinse it briefly with some cold milk or water. Do not touch the dental roots because this could cause infection of the tissue. You can place the tooth in the socket or the cheek pouch in order to keep it under its usual ambient conditions. This should keep the tooth safe until you see the emergency doctor.
Missing Dental Crown
Crown and fillings come off with relative ease when exposed to adverse conditions. For example, external impact or even oral injuries when eating will stress the dental structure, causing dislodgement. If your crown comes off, you will feel sensitivity in the exposed tooth. The dentist might be able to reattach the crown if the damage is not severe and the dental material has not been missing for long.
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About Me
Hello, my name is Peter and I live in Western Australia with my wife on our pet dogs. This is my blog which details how to deal with various medical emergencies and other conditions. Last year, several friends and members of my family suffered from various different kinds of medical problems. Some of them, such as my uncle had to be rushed to the hospital for immediate treatment that saved his life. Lots of my friends had minor problems which had a big impact on the quality of their lives. I take an active interest in first-aid and other medical matters so I decided to start this blog.