Avulsed, Fractured, and Luxated Teeth Due to a Car Accident

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Avulsed, Fractured, and Luxated Teeth Due to a Car Accident

Dealing with dental issues is probably one of the most uncomfortable things, as we need our mouth to eat, talk, and drink water. Basically, we need our teeth and jaws to be in good health in order to avoid daily aches and pains. Aside from cavities, overcrowding, and other dental problems, some people may need a dentist for dental care in San Clemente, CA and to fix damage that resulted after being in a car accident.

Dental injuries are often sustained in car accidents. However, these injuries are commonly overlooked because most people are firstly concerned about broken bones, whiplash, soft tissue damage, and other types of physical injury. But, dental injuries can be very serious too, and should get immediate care from a dentist who has experience taking care of patients who were recently involved in a collision. 

Avulsed Tooth

A person who was in a car accident may have a tooth entirely knocked out of the gum socket, which is otherwise referred to as an avulsed tooth. Once it has been knocked out, you must not pick it up by the roots (only by the crown) and place it into a plastic container filled with saline, saliva, or milk. It is possible that if a dentist is sought the same day, that the tooth can be saved and reinserted back into the gum. But, a tooth that has been sitting out of the mouth for more than two hours has a much less likelihood of being reused.

Fractured Tooth

A fractured tooth can be very painful, and most people with this injury are quite urgent to get dental care in order to find relief. Fractured teeth are treated by dentists the same as avulsed teeth. They are categorized based on the degree of damage, and how many layers were impacted by the injury. The four classifications for fractured teeth include:

  • Class I: Simple fracture in which only the enamel is broken.
  • Class II: Fracture that goes beyond the enamel into the dentin.
  • Class III: Fracture which extends deeper into the tooth, with a small amount of pulp exposed. 
  • Class IV: Fractures entails significant damage to most of the tooth.
  • Class V: The fracture has caused the tooth to be lost entirely.

Luxated Tooth

A luxated tooth is one that has become loose in the gum line but has not fallen out completely. The luxated tooth may wiggle forward, sideways, and/or backwards. A dentist usually treats a luxated tooth by gently coaxing the tooth back into its normal position and stabilizing using a flexible splint. The patient may be encouraged to monitor the area and report any worsening of the injury. If the pulp turns necrotic, then a root canal may be needed to avoid root resorption. 

Causes of Dental Injuries

When a car accident happens, there are many factors that could have led up to the collision. For instance, the other driver may have been distracted, failed to abide by traffic laws, was under the influence, speeding, texting and driving, or committing another behavior that was reckless. 

Thanks to John Redmond Orthodontics for their insight into orthodontic care and treatment after a car accident.