Dental injuries can be overwhelming and you may not know when to reach out to a dentist. The best rule of thumb is that if you are not sure, contact a dentist for help. It’s better to address the issue right away due to the issues that can arise after a dental emergency. Consider these 10 common dental injuries.
10 Common Dental Injuries
Dental injuries can happen to anyone, so consider the following 10 most common dental injuries.
Toothache:
Toothaches are a common dental injury as it is a common symptom for a variety of dental issues. Oftentimes a toothache is a symptom of a more serious dental issue. Dental issues that can cause a toothache include tooth decay, gum disease, trauma, an abscess, and teeth grinding. This is why regularly visiting a dentist is so important as they can assess the health of your teeth at your regular dental visits. This can help reduce your risk for harmful dental issues that can impact your oral health.
Chipped Tooth:
The outer layer of the teeth, the enamel, is the hardest and strongest substance in the body. Despite how strong it is, teeth are constantly exposed to stress and pressure, which can damage your teeth. Things like biting down on hard objects, grinding or clenching your teeth, tooth decay, and the natural aging process can cause chips. Additionally, accidents and other types of trauma can cause damage to your teeth.
Tooth Abscesses:
Tooth abscesses are a common dental injury as they are often caused by untreated dental issues. It occurs when pus builds up inside your teeth or gums due to a bacterial infection. Common dental issues that can result in a dental abscess include untreated cavities, gum disease, trauma, and even poor oral hygiene practices.
Root Fracture:
A root fracture is a common dental injury due to how fragile the root of your teeth is. The natural wear and tear of daily use can put a lot of pressure on the root, and even weaken it. Fillings and root canals can further weaken it and make it more susceptible to injury. When a tooth is subjected to pressure or trauma, it can easily fracture the root.
Knocked-out Tooth:
A knocked-out tooth is common as all accidents cannot be prevented. An accident, sports injury, or even a fight can be a lot of pressure on your tooth. The sudden impact can dislodge it from its socket and completely knock out your tooth. Dental emergencies require immediate treatment as it increases your chances for saving the tooth. Additionally, a knocked-out tooth that is left untreated increases your risk for infection and further dental damage.
Dislodged Tooth:
A dislodged tooth is a common dental injury that can occur for a variety of reasons, including trauma or accident. The tooth may be pushed sideways or out of its socket. However, each scenario requires prompt treatment to not only save the tooth, but prevent further damage.
Lost Filling or Crown:
This can occur due to the natural wear and tear of daily life, tooth decay, and even an injury or other trauma. If your tooth has a crown of filling, it’s generally done because it is necessary to protect your tooth. Without the filling or crown, your tooth will be exposed to further damage. This can lead to decay and other harmful dental issues so it’s important to get treatment right away.
Broken Orthodontics:
Broken orthodontics is a common dental injury. This includes those who wear braces, wires, or retainers. Orthodontic patients can be impacted after biting into something hard, normal wear and tear, or can break due to a hard bite, impact or simply from normal wear and tear. Prompt orthodontic attention is necessary to prevent further damage and ensure proper alignment of the teeth.
Bitten Lip or Tongue:
It can be easy to bite your lip or tongue while eating or even accidentally. It is a common dental injury that can cause pain and swelling in your lips and tongue. Also, it can also impact your teeth depending on the severity of the injury. Usually this can be dealt with at home using a cold pack and over-the-counter pain medication. However, if there is severe bleeding you should seek medical treatment right away.
Object Stuck Between Teeth:
An object stuck between teeth is considered a dental emergency because it can apply pressure to the gums and the surrounding teeth, leading to pain, discomfort, and even more dental issues. If you have something stuck between your teeth that you cannot easily get out with dental floss, seek dental attention right away.
