Traumatic Injuries
Traumatic tooth injuries need to be addressed as rapidly as possible. Whether you have a dislodged or knocked-out tooth, you need immediate care from a dentist or an endodontist. At Apex Endodontics, we can treat traumatic injuries in teeth to increase your chances of maintaining your tooth.
What Is a Dislodged Tooth?
Dislodging a tooth means that it has pulled slightly out of its socket or moved deeper into the gums. Both situations require professional attention. You will likely receive care immediately after the incident to stabilize the tooth and later to repair any internal damage.
Dislodged teeth can damage the pulp. Therefore, you could have bacteria enter and grow, leading to an infection. In many cases of a dislodged tooth, you will need root canal therapy to remove the infected pulp from inside the tooth. Root canal treatment can prevent severe damage that may require you to have the tooth pulled.
How We Treat Dislodged Teeth
When you come to our office at Apex Endodontics with a dislodged tooth, the doctor will examine the tooth and surrounding areas. In most cases, we will take a 3D image (CBCT) of the area to make a more accurate diagnosis. If the tooth remains dislodged, the endodontist will gently put the tooth back into its normal position and stabilize it.
After stabilization, you may need to return to our office for root canal therapy. However, if the tooth and pulp remain healthy, you may not need root canal treatment. We take every measure possible to ensure that our patients are comfortable throughout the procedure.
What Should You Do If You Knock Out a Tooth?
If you knock out a tooth, you need to call our office or your general dentist immediately. The tooth needs to be placed back in the socket as soon as possible. If it is not possible to see our office or your dentist within 30-60 minutes, gently rinse the tooth off with milk or saliva first; then gently place the tooth back in its socket. In any case, try to visit a dentist or endodontist as soon as you can. If you do not feel comfortable placing the tooth back in its socket, store the tooth in milk or saliva until you can see your dentist or endodontist. Distilled water or tap water can damage the outer surface of the root, and teeth should not be stored in water.
How We Treat a Knocked-Out Tooth
When you arrive, one of our doctors will evaluate the state of your mouth and the tooth. If the tooth is still out of the mouth, the endodontist will attempt to replant the tooth and hold it in place with a splint, depending on where the tooth is located. The type of damage to the tooth, how long it's been outside your mouth, stage of development of the tooth, and if the tooth or gum has dried all play a role in the actions of the endodontist as they work to replace the tooth.
Contact Us at Apex Endodontics for Treatment of Traumatic Tooth Injuries
Don't let an accident cause you the permanent loss of a tooth. Contact us at Apex Endodontics by phone if you have a dislodged or knocked-out tooth. For the latter, you will need immediate care within the hour to save the tooth and should come in at once. Let us help you address traumatic injuries to your teeth through our advanced endodontic care designed to help preserve your natural teeth with comfort, precision, and technology.