What Are Some Common Dental Traumas?
No one plans on getting hurt, especially when it comes to their face, specifically their mouth. Still, pediatric dental trauma can be pretty common, with roughly 25% of school children suffering it. Of course, not all dental trauma is the same. There are different dental traumas, and being familiar with them can help you understand what needs to be done when they happen.
Soft Tissue Injury
Soft tissue injuries, often involving the frenum (the tissue that connects the lip to the upper gum), can be painful, but are usually self resolving. You probably won’t need to seek special treatment for this type of dental trauma. Still, it’s not a bad idea to call Dr. Maccaro and make sure that there aren’t other potential injuries that need to be addressed. Apply firm pressure and use a clean cloth or gauze to stop the bleeding. Feed your child soft, bland foods to prevent discomfort, and be gentle while practicing oral hygiene in that area.
Bumped Teeth
Bumped teeth can be a much more serious form of dental trauma. Bumped teeth can result in one of three types of injuries: a concussion, a luxation, or a chipped tooth. A concussion is when a tooth is hit but remains in the same place. A luxation is a bumped tooth that has moved, but not been knocked out. Chipped teeth are teeth that have a portion of them that have broken off. These injuries can be quite painful. Have Dr. Maccaro take a look to make sure that any necessary treatment gets underway as quickly as possible to get the best prognosis.
Avulsion Injury
Avulsion injuries are what it’s called when a tooth gets knocked out. Depending on other factors surrounding the injury, immediate medical treatment may be necessary. It’s important to note that if the knocked out tooth is a baby tooth, you should not attempt to reinsert it. Just see Dr. Maccaro as soon as possible. If the tooth is a permanent tooth, hold it by the crown (not the root), rinse it gently in cold tap water, and either place the tooth back in its socket or place it in cold, low-fat milk and get to the dentist as soon as possible. Time is of the essence if the tooth is to be saved. Don’t scrub the tooth or try to clean it with anything other than water, don’t allow it to dry out, and don’t wrap it in a tissue, cloth or plastic.
Dental traumas are painful experiences, and can be scary for children. They can even be scary for you as a parent. Still, there’s no need to panic. Between Dr. Justin Maccaro and Dr. Henry Maccaro, we can help you and your child get the treatment needed to get the recovery process off to a good start.
Has your child suffered dental trauma? Let Maccaro Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry help! Click here to contact us today.
