Injuries to the mouth
can cause teeth to be pushed back into their sockets. Dr. D'Amelio may reposition and stabilize your tooth. Root canal
treatment is usually started within a few weeks of the injury and a
medication, such as calcium hydroxide, will be placed inside the
tooth. Eventually, a permanent root canal filling will be placed.
Sometimes a tooth may be pushed
partially out of the socket. Again, Dr. D'Amelio or your general
dentist may reposition and stabilize your tooth. If the pulp remains
healthy, then no other treatment is necessary. Yet, if the pulp
becomes damaged or infected, root canal treatment will be required.
If an injury causes a
tooth to be completely knocked out of your mouth, it is important that
you are treated immediately! If this happens to you, keep the tooth
moist. If possible, put it back into the socket. A tooth can be saved
if it remains moist. You can even put the tooth in milk or a glass of
water (add a pinch of salt.) Dr. D'Amelio may start root canal
treatment based upon the stage of root development.
The length of time
the tooth was out of your mouth and the way the tooth was stored, may
influence the type of treatment you receive.
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Traumatic Dental
Injuries In Children |
An injured
immature tooth may need one of the following procedures to improve the
chances of saving the tooth:
This procedure
encourages the root to continue development as the pulp is healed. The
injured soft tissue is covered with medication to encourage growth. The tip of
the root (apex) will continue to close as the child gets older. In
turn, the walls of the root canal will thicken. If the pulp heals, no
additional treatment will be necessary. The more mature the root
becomes, the better the chance to save the tooth.
In this case, the
unhealthy pulp is removed. Dr. D'Amelio places medication into the root to
help a hard tissue form near the root tip. This hardened tissue
provides a barrier for the root canal filling. At this point, the root
canal walls will not continue to develop, making the tooth susceptible
to fractures. Proper restoration will minimize this possibility and
maximize protection of your tooth.
