Dental trauma is, unfortunately, a fairly common occurrence among children and adolescents. It can involve teeth, gum tissue, lips and lip attachments. Dental trauma can range from mild to severe.
A variety of common things can result in dental trauma. These include falls, sports-related injuries and collisions. The severity of the injury also has a wide range of seriousness. Small chips may not require any treatment, whereas teeth that have been completely avulsed or “knocked-out” may need root canal therapy or dental implants.
When a child experiences dental trauma, there are a few important steps to take. It is important to clean the area and apply pressure to control any bleeding. Always check for any injuries that could have involved the head or other areas of the body. If you suspect any head trauma or your child is not acting like himself after a few minutes, a trip to the ER may be warranted. Lastly, seek dental care as soon as possible to mitigate long-term effects.
Your pediatric dentist may recommend a radiograph (x-ray) to check for any signs of fracture or damage to adult teeth if they are not in yet, as well as discuss treatment options with you. For baby teeth, some common treatment outcomes following trauma include: watchful waiting, bonding, crowns and even extraction if the injury is severe enough. Some common treatments following injuries to adult teeth include smoothing down sharp edges, restorations (bonding), root canal therapy and orthodontic treatment to reposition displaced teeth.
The best strategy for avoiding dental trauma is prevention. This includes making sure to wear appropriate safety gear like helmets and mouthguards during sports or recreational activities, like riding bikes. Also, making sure children are not engaging in habits that could cause damage to teeth, like chewing on pencils or ice. Lastly, always maintaining your regular dental check-ups with your pediatric dentist will help your child maintain good oral health and identify potential issues to help avoid trauma in the future.
-by Dr. Madison Galloway
About the Authors: Dr. Mandy Ashley, Dr. Madison Galloway and Dr. Tyler McCubbins are Board Certified Pediatric Dentists proud to serve the communities of Bowling Green, Hopkinsville and Glasgow! We look forward to sharing our vision of excellent comprehensive dental care that is fun for children and people with special healthcare needs with your family. SKY Pediatric Dentistry has been providing dental care to children and adults with special needs since 2013. As board-certified specialists in dentistry for children, our team strives to make going to the dentist as fun as possible while maintaining high-quality treatment and preventative measures. We tailor treatment plans to each child and offer a wide range of treatment options, including sedation, in-office general anesthesia and also hospital-based dentistry. With over 25 YEARS of doctor experience, SKY Pediatric Dentistry is a great choice for children’s dental care in Bowling Green, Hopkinsville and Glasgow!
