How Oral Injury Can Lead to Tooth Loss
The team at our Charlotte restorative dentistry practice has a great deal of experience addressing dental injuries and serious dental wellness issues. Among these is the loss of teeth, which causes a number of problems. Thankfully there are many treatments we can use to address these issues.
Physical trauma and injuries to the mouth are some of the most common causes of missing teeth. Let's take a moment to consider some of the common reasons oral injuries occur.
Slips and Falls
Slipping, tripping, and falling are some of the most common causes of dental injuries, tooth fractures, and missing teeth. This is particularly true when a person slips and is unable to stop their fall, or if they fall from a major height.
Contact and Combat Sports
Contact sports and combat sports can result in a number of injuries to the face, head, and mouth. This is a major danger with football, hockey, boxing, and mixed martial arts (MMA), though it can also be an issue in basketball and soccer. This is why wearing mouth protection and head protection is so important when playing sports.
Vehicle Accidents
Whether the accident occurs in a car, on a motorcycle, or on a bike, major collision can result in serious bodily harm. If an impact is directed at the head or face, the chances of losing a tooth or experiencing major tooth damage is high. Helmets and safety restraints are crucial for protecting yourself from serious harm.
Accidents While Eating
People take eating accidents for granted, but they can happen and be quite serious. An unpopped kernel of popcorn, a small bit of bone, or another hard object in your food can cause a major tooth fracture or even a crack that requires you to have the tooth extracted. Try to savor your food to avoid major injuries such as this.
Unexpected Tooth Fractures
People may have a nervous habit of biting or chewing on inedible objects, such as pens, pen caps, drinking straws, or fingernails. These can all do damage to the teeth in minor ways, and sometimes major ones. After wearing down your tooth structure, sometimes a nibble on a hard object can lead to serious damage or loss of a tooth.
Physical Altercations
People who get into a fight or who are assaulted may be seriously harmed in a variety of ways. Those who sustain blows to the head or face may experience tooth loss in addition to other major injuries, such as broken teeth or fractures to the jaw.
Can a Tooth That's Been Knocked Out Be Saved?
Yes, but it's important that you act quickly.
Be sure to grab the dislodged tooth by the crown rather than the root structure. Place the tooth in a cup of milk if possible. When no milk is available, place the dislodged tooth in your mouth securely between the cheek and your gums. If you are not seriously injured, rush to your dentist for emergency dental care services.
Treatments for Missing Teeth
If you wind up missing a tooth or a few teeth, there are, thankfully, quite a few options for treatment. These can restore the appearance of your smile as well as your ability to bite and chew normally. These treatments include the following:
- Dental bridges
- Partial dentures
- Full dentures
- Dental implants
- Dental crowns supported by implants
We can discuss these in more detail during a consultation.
Contact Advanced Dentistry of Blakeney
For more information about treating tooth loss and helping you have a smile that's health and beautiful, be sure to contact our state-of-the-art dental care center today. We look forward to discussing these matters with you in much greater detail during the consultation process.
