COMMON INJURIES
The most common types of traumatic injuries include:
Dislodged Teeth: A tooth that is pushed sideways, out of or into its socket. The tooth can be repositioned and possibly stabilized with a splint. Root canal treatment is usually recommended for permanent teeth and should be started within a few weeks following the injury. Medication, such as calcium hydroxide, is placed inside the tooth as part of the root canal treatment. A permanent root canal filling will be placed later.
Avulsed Teeth: If a tooth is completely knocked out of your mouth, time is of the essence. The tooth should be handled very gently and, if possible, put back into the socket. Avoid touching the root surface itself and gently rinse with water if it’s dirty. If available, we recommend placing the tooth in a Save A Tooth Kit (Hanks’ Balanced Solution). You can even put the tooth in 2% milk if you need to store the tooth until you see an endodontist. If you do not have access to any of these, probably carrying the tooth in your own saliva is the best alternative. You do not want the tooth to dry out. The length of time the tooth was out of your mouth and the way the tooth was stored, may influence the type of treatment you receive and the outcome.