Dental trauma

What is dental trauma?

 

Dental traumas - are dental emergencies that can affect both children and adults, and are quite common in the field of dentistry, especially in the front teeth. The most important step in the treatment of a trauma is to report it to a specialist and manage it until it is referred to a doctor's surgery.

Depending on the severity, these dental traumas may require procedures from: dento-alveolar surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, pedodontics. The most common dental traumas are the direct ones, caused by falling, accidental hitting or aggression. And much more rarely iatrogenic trauma, following orthodontic or dental treatment.

 

Types of trauma

 

Dental fissure

It represents an incomplete fracture, only in the enamel, with a superficial damage to the tooth, not endangering the teeth. It is often symptomless, rarely causing tooth sensitivity. Treatment of these dental traumas consists of cosmetic treatment of the dental area or the application of remineralizing gels and regular check-ups with the dentist to monitor the situation.

 

Dental fracture

It consists of a lack of tooth structure (smaller or larger) with or without nerve damage. If the nerve is not included, the pain will be more in the form of sensitivity. Depending on the situation and the severity of the trauma, the dentist will decide whether the nerve can be preserved or not. If there is no pain and the detached fragment is small, tooth reconstruction is not an emergency.

 

Infusion dislocation (intrusion)

It can be partial, when part of the dental crown is still visible (the tooth appears to be shorter), or total, when the entire tooth is sunken into the bone. In the treatment of these types of dental trauma, radiologic examination is recommended to determine the degree of damage. The tooth may return to its original position, most of the time being discolored due to nerve damage. The dentist will determine whether the tooth can be kept on the arch or not.

 

Lateral dislocation

The tooth is moved right/left, vestibular/lingual. In general, in any type of dislocation, radiologic examination and symptomatology is representative in determining treatment.

 

Avulsia

It belongs to the category of dental trauma that must be treated immediately. The prognosis depends on the way the tooth has been preserved, the period of time from the incident to its treatment, the age of the patient and the conditions of the avulsion. The ligaments of the tooth are torn in the case of avulsion, repositioning the tooth in the alveolus leading to successful treatment by preserving the vitality of the ligaments, only if the tooth has been preserved in optimal conditions. In a few weeks after reimplantation, ligament stabilization will be complete. The patient can enjoy their own tooth again. Reimplantation is an ideal situation for avulsions, but often the tooth cannot be found, or the time it has been exposed to the external environment is long, in these cases requiring more complex treatments.

After completing the treatment the recommendations are:

• A semi-solid diet so as not to put extra stress on the affected tooth;
• Maintaining good oral hygiene;
• Rinse with chlorhexidine 0.12% (not for children);
• Antibiotherapy (only on doctor's recommendation);
• Anti-inflammatory and analgesic;
• Clinical and radiologic monitoring.

 

Regardless of the nature of the trauma, the patient or parents should make an appointment as early as possible in order to manage the situation as simply and easily as possible and keep the tooth on the arch. In children, these dental traumas are among the most common oral disorders after tooth decay that can alter the "baby" or permanent dentition. So don't let time pass, even if the tooth in question is not permanent. Even 'baby' teeth can be affected at any time.