Traumatic teeth injuries can sometimes happen, often due to an accident, a fall, violence, a car accident, biting down on hard foods or a sports injury. No matter the damage, you should have your injury examined by your dentist or endodontist as soon as possible. When repairing teeth after an injury, we take special care to save the integrity of your natural tooth.
Most injuries involve either a chip or a crack in the tooth. On rare occasions, one or more teeth can become loose or completely dislodged. Unlike broken bones or other bodily injuries, your teeth cannot repair themselves. Come see us right away if you suffer a tooth injury.
- Chipped tooth
- Cracked tooth
- Loose tooth
- Dislodged / lost tooth (requires immediate attention)
Even if you’re not experiencing any pain, it’s essential to have your damaged tooth or teeth treated as soon as possible. Your teeth are a living part of your body. They are fed by the roots and nerves that surround your teeth. So, when an injury occurs, the nerves and roots can become damaged as well.
Severe damage can result in an undernourished tooth. A tooth that is not properly supplied with nutrients can become discolored or even die. In addition, neighboring teeth can also sustain damage that you may not have noticed.
How We Repair a Tooth Injury
At Peace Haven Family Dentistry, we take every opportunity to save and restore your original tooth. Depending on the type and severity of your injury, we may explore several options when repairing teeth after an injury.
If your tooth enamel is chipped, a simple repair—smoothing the surface of your tooth—is sometimes all that is needed. However, if the chip occurs deeper than the surface of your tooth, we will need to create a tooth-colored filling that can be bonded to your tooth. Both of these repairs can be made without pain and sometimes without numbing injections. If the crown of your tooth has a larger piece broken off, it can also be repaired with a tooth-colored filling or a veneer or crown restoration.
A dental crown may be necessary to repair a chipped or cracked tooth. A dental crown is a new covering for your tooth. Your dental crown is created to match the color of your surrounding teeth. It is then bonded to your original tooth to create a new façade. After your repair, you will be able to eat, drink, brush, floss, laugh, and smile as normal.
Repairing a Dislodged Tooth
If your tooth has been completely knocked out, it’s important that you see a dentist or endodontist immediately. All is not lost. Your tooth may still be saved. But you need to be seen within 30 minutes of your accident. Be sure to handle your lost tooth very carefully and don’t touch (contaminate) the root surface.
Your dentist may be able to re-implant your tooth into your gums. After repairing a dislodged tooth, it’s important to continue to see your dentist regularly. Your body can still reject your tooth, so your dentist will need to watch for any signs of early rejection.
Repairing teeth after an injury is essential. Contact us for an appointment
Be sure to see us right away for any tooth damage in a child or adult.
All Aspects of General Dentistry Including: Root Canal Therapy, Dental Extractions, Invisalign, Dental Implants, Tooth Colored Fillings, Same Day CEREC Crowns, Full and Partial Dentures, 3-D CBCT X-rays
My office is located at:
1086 Whitaker Rd.
Winston Salem, NC 27106
336-765-9247
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