Injuries To The Teeth & Surrounding Dental Structures
Isolated injuries to teeth are quite common and may require the
expertise of various dental specialists. Oral surgeons usually are
involved in treating fractures in the supporting bone or in replanting
teeth that have been displaced or knocked out. These types of injuries
are treated by one of a number of forms of splinting (stabilizing by
wiring or bonding teeth together). If a tooth is knocked out, it should
be placed in salt water or milk. The sooner the tooth is re-inserted
into the dental socket, the better chance it will survive. Therefore,
the patient should see a dentist or oral surgeon as soon as possible.
Never attempt to wipe the tooth off, since remnants of the ligament that
hold the tooth in the jaw are attached and are vital to the success of
replanting the tooth. Other dental specialists may be called upon such
as endodontists, who may be asked to perform root canal therapy, and/or
restorative dentists who may need to repair or rebuild fractured teeth.
In the event that injured teeth cannot be saved or repaired, dental
implants are often now utilized as replacements for missing teeth.
