Whether it’s sports-related injuries, unexpected accidents or a long-term issue all of us can suddenly become the victim of a traumatic dental injury and these can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Chipped, dislodged or knocked-out teeth are all examples of how these injuries can range in severity and each treatment changes depending on what the exact problem is. However, no matter what the dental injury, an immediate dental examination or free consultation is crucial as neighbouring teeth can potentially be affected and only a proper inspection can ensure the correct treatment is diagnosed and implemented.
The Sameday Teeth Suite in Nottingham, Leicester and Loughborough understands this need for specialised procedures and as a result can offer the best dentists who combine advanced skills, techniques and technologies to both repair your teeth and prevent possible further damage. Dental problems come in many ways and it is important to recognise what happens in each situation.
Tooth loss Injuries
If an injury or accident has resulted in the breaking off of a large piece of tooth a dentist may decide to apply a crown, or tooth-shaped cap, to the damaged area. This permanent crown can be made from metal, porcelain fused to metal, all resin or all ceramic material and each provides different benefits. Metal crowns are the strongest available whilst porcelain and resin crowns provide the benefit of appearing almost identical to an original tooth. If the damaged tooth is almost completely broken off leaving only the root a dentist can place a pin in the root which then provides a base on which to build a new structure capable of attaching one of the previously mentioned crowns to.
In the case of a knocked-out tooth or teeth it is vital that you undertake the following steps. An emergency appointment with your dentist should be made immediately and you should protect your loose tooth in between the accident and appointment. This protection comes via holding the tooth by the crown, not the root, avoiding scraping or brushing the tooth, rinsing it with milk or salt water solution if dirty and keeping the tooth in your mouth if possible, either in its socket or between your cheek and gum. Do not rinse the tooth with water or alcohol and if you can’t hold the tooth in your mouth place it in a clean container and cover it with milk or your own saliva.
If you have carefully protected your loose tooth the dentist will then reimplant it as soon as possible, ideally within an hour, after the accident or injury first occurred. The tooth will be splintered to surrounding teeth via clear plastic or a thin piece of wire. This splint will help the tooth heal back into place and your dentist will advise you on how to proceed after any repair work.
Tooth Replacements
In the event of a lost tooth your dentist will look to replace it using dentures, a bridge or an implant and each method comes with its own procedure and benefit.
- Dentures, commonly known as false teeth, are constructed to replace missing teeth and fit in the mouth supported by the soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity which surround the replacement.
- Bridges are generally used when dentists are required to replace more than one tooth as they span the area of all missing teeth. These bridges are cemented into place by attaching them to the natural or implanted teeth which surround the damaged area.
- The final regularly used method is dental implants and these are essentially metal posts or frames which can be placed into the jawbone underneath your gums. These implants are fused to the bone and provide an extremely secure fit and as a result can feel more nature than the other two previously mentioned procedures.
- Another option comes in the form of the all-on-4 system, a contemporary procedure, that provides patients suffering from particularly traumatic dental problems a simplified solution that allows for full-arch rehabilitation. This fixed bridge is supported by only four dental implants and as a result the entire process can be undertaken in just one day.
It’s hard to imagine awful dental injuries but the world can throw up unexpected accidents and as a result it helps to realise that there are a variety of treatments out there in which experienced experts dentists can provide the best dental care relative to your situation. That smile will be back in no-time!
Tags: all-on-4-system, bridges, dental implants, smile reconstruction