Facial Trauma Charlotte NC Dental trauma is physical injury to the teeth and mouth requiring treatment. Greater Charlotte Oral and Facial Surgery provides emergency services to assess any damage, carry out treatments to stabilize the injury, and make sure you are comfortable and pain-free.What Are the Causes of Dental Trauma?Dental trauma can be inflicted by accident through contact sports, a motor vehicle accident, or a fall. It may also be the result of violence through fighting. Sometimes, injury can be caused by eating or drinking, for example, hot food or liquids scalding the mouth, or through breaking a tooth by biting on something hard. What Are the Treatments for Dental Trauma?The treatment for dental trauma will depend on what the injury is. Although expedient treatment may be required for many trauma cases, it is particularly true of damage to the teeth especially if a tooth has been displaced completely. Knocked Out TeethKnocked-out teeth must be handled by the crown. If the tooth is dirty, use your saliva to clean it and place it gently back in its socket. Keep it held in place by placing a gauze pad over it and gently biting down. If you cannot place it in the socket, hold it in the mouth. You will need to see the dentist quickly (within 40 minutes) if you are to save the tooth because after that the odds diminish substantially. The dentist can stabilize the tooth with a splint so that the treatment can be completed with a root canal procedure after a few weeks. Loose TeethIf the tooth is dislodged or loose but has not been knocked out completely, you should try and move it back into position, however, do not force it. Much like if your tooth is knocked out, keep the tooth in place using a gauze pad and biting on it. Get to the dentist as soon as you can where the tooth can be splinted. Root canal treatment may be the treatment of choice for a number of dental trauma problems, including teeth that are dislodged (luxated), if the pulp has become exposed, or if an injury is caused to the back teeth. This process removes the entire root of the tooth and places an implant where your tooth used to be. Preventing Dental TraumaObviously, accidents do happen but there are some precautions you can take to minimize the effects of trauma on your teeth and mouth, such as always wearing a seat belt when traveling by car and protecting your teeth if you are involved in contact sports or activities which could include you falling, such as cycling and skateboarding. Ask us about tailor-made mouthguards to protect your teeth and provide maximum comfort as they are designed specifically for you. Reconstructive SurgeryWhile you take every measure possible to protect yourself, the world can be a dangerous place. Accidents can happen anywhere, in the car, while playing sports, at work, even at home. Some of these accidents can affect the face and mouth. While many may be minor, there are some accidents that are serious, and may even require reconstructive surgery. Greater Charlotte Oral and Facial Surgery, dental emergency Charlotte, can help. What is Reconstructive Surgery?When you suffer a facial or oral injury, it can do significant damage. Not only can it affect certain functions, depending upon the region injured, it can also affect your appearance. If your appearance is altered as a result of trauma, it can have a serious effect on your self-esteem. Reconstructive surgery is a term that covers a broad range of procedures that are meant to rebuild the soft or hard tissues of the oral and facial regions. The goal is to reconstruct the affected area of the face, neck, or mouth to return you to normal function while restoring your appearance. This can help restore your quality of life, as well as give you back your confidence. Who is a Candidate?Anyone who has suffered loss of facial structure as a result of oral or facial trauma can technically be considered a candidate for reconstructive surgery. There are several factors that can play into setting a specific timeline. Oral and facial injuries range. The complexity of the trauma, the amount of damage done, and the cause of the defect, are all factors that need to be considered. Someone who has been in an auto accident may need to undergo several stages of treatment, restoring soft tissue before undergoing hard tissue restoration. Patients who have lost facial structure as a result of oral cancer are also candidates for reconstructive surgery, as are those who have lost facial structure as a result of an infection. Reconstructive Surgery ProceduresThere are several different types of reconstructive surgery procedures:
If you have suffered an oral or facial injury, it is important to seek treatment quickly. Contact Greater Charlotte Oral and Facial Surgery oral surgeons Charlotte today at (980) 332-7990 for an assessment and treatment. |
