Dislodged Teeth

Injuries to the mouth can result in teeth being pushed back into their sockets. Your regular dentist can reposition and stabilize the tooth. Within a few weeks of the injury, root canal treatment will typically begin, and a medication like calcium hydroxide will be placed inside the tooth. Eventually, a permanent root canal filling will be inserted.

In some cases, a tooth may be partially pushed out of the socket. Once again, your endodontist or regular dentist can reposition and stabilize the tooth. If the pulp remains healthy, no further treatment is necessary. However, if the pulp is damaged or infected, root canal treatment will be required. If left untreated, various complications can occur, including infection of the tooth, root system, or surrounding tissue, difficulty maintaining proper oral hygiene due to the dislodged tooth and gums, and potential tooth loss.

Avulsed Teeth

If you experience complete tooth loss due to an injury, it is crucial to seek immediate treatment. In such a situation, it is important to keep the tooth moist. If possible, try placing it back into the socket. By keeping the tooth moist, there is a chance of saving it. Alternatively, you can place the tooth in milk or a glass of water (with a pinch of salt added). The type of treatment you receive may depend on how long the tooth was out of your mouth and how it was stored. The stage of root development may also be considered, and root canal treatment may be initiated accordingly.

Tooth Injuries in Children

To increase the likelihood of saving an injured immature tooth, one of the following procedures may be necessary:

Apexogenesis

This procedure promotes the ongoing development of the root while the pulp is being healed. Medication is applied to the soft tissue to stimulate growth. As the child grows older, the tip of the root (apex) will gradually close, and the walls of the root canal will thicken. If the pulp successfully heals, no further treatment will be required. The tooth's chances of being saved improve as the root matures.

Apexification

In this scenario, the doctors eliminate the unhealthy pulp and introduce medication into the root to promote the formation of sturdy tissue near the root tip. This hardened tissue acts as a protective barrier for the root canal filling. However, it is crucial to note that the development of the root canal walls ceases at this stage, rendering the tooth vulnerable to fractures. Therefore, it is imperative to seek proper restoration of the tooth from your dentist.

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