In a recent blog, we shared some commonly asked questions about tooth resorption. Resorption is a chronic inflammatory condition where the cells in your mouth start to reject and destroy the tooth as a self-defense mechanism. This is caused by a dental trauma. In some cases, the trauma will knock the tooth loose, and in severe cases the tooth may fall out.

When it comes to dental trauma, how you respond in the moments after the incident can make a difference in whether you are able to save the tooth or not. Here are a few common scenarios – and how you should respond immediately following the trauma to your tooth.

1. You hit your tooth on something, and it remains intact.

   You’ve probably experienced a mild dental concussion at some point in your life. This would be something like getting headbutted in the mouth by a child or hitting your tooth on a glass of water. While the tooth has endured a mild trauma, it remains unchanged to the naked eye.

   The impact, however, can disrupt blood flow to the tooth. This level of dental trauma would not be considered an emergency. But I would recommend you see your dentist within a week. We can take an x-ray of the tooth and do vitality testing to see if the nerve inside the tooth has been damaged. Based on that testing, we can monitor the tooth and ensure there is still good blood flow. If we determine there is no blood flow – and the tooth is “nonvital” – then we’ll discuss the possibility of a root canal.

2. You hit your tooth on something and there is bleeding and movement.

   A more severe dental concussion would be something like getting hit in the mouth with a softball. There may be bleeding at the base of the tooth and you’re no longer able to bite down because the tooth has moved or is loose. In more severe cases, the tooth may break under the gumline.

   If you knock a tooth loose, you’ll want to reposition the tooth and get it back in place as quickly as possible. Your best chance at saving the tooth is repositioning it immediately following the concussion, before a blood clot has formed. Some people can do this themselves, and others may need a little help based on their pain tolerance. After your tooth is back in place, call your dentist and make an appointment within a few days. During your appointment, we’ll conduct vitality testing and possibly splint the tooth based on the severity of the trauma.

3. You knock your tooth out completely.

   In severe cases, a dental concussion will cause the tooth to fall out. This could be caused by falling and hitting your tooth on the ground, or a stronger impact from a foreign object.

   If your tooth falls out, pick it up by the crown structure (the part of the tooth that is exposed in your mouth) and put it back in the socket. It’s very important that you don’t touch the root of the tooth while doing this. Also refrain from cleaning it. The root of the tooth has protective layers that you don’t want to disrupt.

   If you’re not able to put the tooth back in the socket, place it in a cup of milk. Milk is a neutral solution that will keep the tooth moist and preserve the protective layers.

   This scenario is considered a dental emergency. Whether you get the tooth back in or not, you’ll want to call the dentist immediately (even after-hours) and see them as soon as possible. The dentist will try to get the tooth back in place and splint it, then determine the next best steps from there.

How to Treat an Injured Tooth

In the second two scenarios, the sooner you get the tooth back in place, the greater the chances are that it will survive. However, even if the tooth is replaced, there is a high chance of resorption because it has endured a trauma. Treatment would require a root canal or tooth implant down the road.

Unfortunately, these dental traumas are more common than you think. But, armed with this information, you can make an informed decision on how to respond and hopefully prolong the life of your tooth.

Has Your Tooth Experienced Trauma?

If you’ve recently injured your tooth – whether it was a mild injury or a complete loss – contact our dental office to set up a consultation. We’d be happy to discuss your options and conduct the appropriate vitality testing to assess the tooth. You can schedule an appointment online, or call us at (813) 689-4226.