Dental Trauma

Dear Patients,

“For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.” – Judy Garland

As we enter into the spring and summer our office will see a number of patients that have experienced dental trauma. Fortunately, most of the traumas we see are soft tissue injuries, scrapes, cuts, abrasions. These type of traumas are usually treated with pallative care. We recommend cleaning the wound and depending on severity, keeping the area moistened with vitamin E oil or some triple ointment.

In the rare event where actual tooth/teeth injuries occur it is imperative to seek dental help immediately. By receiving prompt care a clinician can properly diagnose the severity of the injury and make recommendations as to the proper course of treatment. If a permanent tooth is dislodged (avulsed) it is recommended to attempt to replant the tooth (if possible). If you are unable to reposition the tooth into its socket then place it in a canister of milk, or inside your mouth in your cheek and seek immediate care.

Should the trauma result in a fracture of just the enamel of the tooth, this is often repaired with a plastic filling (composite).

Should the trauma result in an exposure of the pulp, root canal therapy is often necessary.

Should the trauma result in root fracture, the prognosis of the tooth with this type of injury is poor.

Should you or someone you love experience facial/dental trauma, please contact our office for an evaluation.

Sincerely,

Michael W. Dagostino, DDS

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