Traumatic Injuries
Oral injuries can be caused by auto accidents, sports, falls, and other causes. At Elite Endodontics, your endodontist, Dr. Danni Sayman, can use the right treatment to help restore your teeth. There are different types of traumatic dental injuries, and we provide the right treatment to our patients after evaluating the oral impact of their injuries.
Endodontic Treatment for Traumatic Dental Injury
The endodontic treatment for traumatic injuries usually begins with repositioning and stabilizing the affected tooth. If needed, we will start root canal treatment within a few weeks of the injury. Once the treatment is completed, we will place a special material inside the root canal and close the access to the tooth with a temporary filling.
Often it occurs that the tooth gets pushed partially out of its socket. Even in this situation, our endodontist may consider repositioning and stabilizing the tooth. If we find the pulp healthy and unaffected, additional treatment may not be required. On the other hand, if there is infection or damage in the pulp, we may continue with root canal therapy.
Types of Traumatic Dental Injuries
There are different types of traumatic dental injuries, and we can provide endodontic treatment for all these injuries. Our endodontist will conduct a thorough assessment before determining the right course of treatment.
The different forms of traumatic injuries are as follows:
Avulsed Teeth
Avulsed teeth or knocked-out teeth require immediate treatment. If you suffer such an oral injury, we suggest that you take the following steps to save your tooth:
You should get to our office as quickly as possible.
Root Fractures
Traumatic injuries to the tooth can also cause a root fracture. The point where the fracture occurs affects the long-term health of your tooth.
- A fracture close to the root tip means that there are higher chances of success.
- A fracture that doesn’t cause the root to separate into two pieces has a higher chance of success.
- A fracture closer to the crown (chewing surface) lowers the chances of success.
Such traumatic injuries may also require using a splint for some time to stabilize. If the tooth’s pulp has been damaged, we may suggest root canal treatment.
Crown Fractures/Crown-Root Fractures
Chipped teeth can typically be repaired with a basic filling. However, there are times when a chip can cause the pulp inside the tooth to be exposed. While some types of exposures can be treated with the help of fillings, others may require root canal therapy. Back teeth can have the following types of damage:
- Fractured cusps
- Split teeth
- Cracked teeth
We will determine the right course of treatment based on the extent of crack and damage. Dislodged teeth are a more serious kind of traumatic injury, and we will conduct an assessment before determining if endodontic treatment is required.