Dental trauma: whether you’ve experienced it, heard of horror stories about it, or are just generally curious about the condition itself, there’s no denying that it can be one of the most terrifying dental conditions to go through. The problem with dental trauma, however, goes far beyond the effects and symptoms themselves. As a matter of fact, the scariest part about dental trauma is that most people don’t have adequate knowledge about it. 

If you want to brush up on several dental conditions that you should know about or suspect that you’re experiencing a form of it at the moment, here’s everything you need to know about dental trauma in greater detail:

Dental trauma explained

The simplest way to describe dental trauma is that it is an injury to the teeth, gums, or any surrounding tissue in the mouth, such as the tongue or lips. Dental trauma is actually a fairly broad type of condition that encompasses several specific symptoms that range from minor to major cases. 

Regarding how it occurs, dental trauma usually comes about with any type of trauma or force that directly or indirectly affects the mouth. Here are the most common occurrences wherein dental trauma may take place:

  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Sports injuries 
  • Regular accidents (such as tripping or being hit by an object)
  • Vehicular collisions
  • Sparring accidents

The different types of dental trauma

As previously mentioned, dental trauma is a fairly broad topic because of all the sub-types of conditions that fall under it. To better understand what exactly constitutes or counts as a case of dental trauma, here are the most common examples that you should know of:

1. Tooth fractures 

When the term “dental trauma” is brought up, chances are that you may probably have an image of a fractured tooth in mind. The easiest way to spot a tooth fracture is if you feel pain when eating, gnawing on something, or when the temperature changes. Tooth fractures, in general, are quite varied due to the wide array of different factors that may constitute a single case and the fact that the condition itself can come in several forms. 

2. Luxated teeth

While the technical term itself may not seem as familiar, you’re definitely aware of what it actually is: a dislodged tooth. Luxated teeth (or dislodged teeth) can come in several variations, namely: 

  • Extrusive luxation: A tooth ending up out of the socket after trauma is dealt
  • Intrusive luxation: A tooth going further into the socket 
  • Lateral luxation: A tooth going sideways within the socket itself
  • Subluxation: A tooth simply being knocked loose within the socket

3. Avulsed teeth

One of the most common causes of dental trauma is avulsion, which essentially takes place when a tooth is completely knocked clean out of its socket. A case of an avulsed tooth must be treated immediately to save both the tooth and the socket that it was knocked out of. It is worth noting, however, that the prognosis for an avulsed tooth depends on several factors, such as the time it spent out of the mouth, the medium it was stored in, and how it was carried. 

4. Root fractures

Given the severity of root fractures in regards to its symptoms, it is imperative to act quickly if you ever end up experiencing them. Root fractures tend to make themselves known through a tenderness of teeth and an experience of pain during eating. In regards to treating such instances, most cases of root fractures are treated by splinting the tooth itself for four to five weeks on average to promote stability, but the total splinting period can extend for much longer in severe cases. 

Dental trauma, without a doubt, can prove to be one of the most worrisome conditions you could possibly experience, even more so if you aren’t aware that you’re experiencing it at the moment. If you feel that you’re currently experiencing dental trauma, seek treatment right away to prevent the condition from worsening! 

If you experience a dental emergency in Edmonton, get in touch with us today to see how we can help.

Posted in Dental News & Advice