Trauma

Dental trauma can cause a variety of problems, depending on the type and severity of the injury. For example, a chipped tooth may not seem like a big deal, but if the chip is large enough, it can cause the tooth to become weak and eventually break. A cracked tooth can also be very painful, and if left untreated, could eventually lead to tooth loss. More serious injuries, such as those that cause the tooth to be knocked out, will require immediate medical attention.

If your tooth is dislodged from the mouth, the first thing you need to do is find the tooth and immediately put it in a glass of milk or saline solution. Once you have had it in there for a couple minutes, immediately place the tooth back into the socket. When doing this step, we advise that you keep in mind that however you place the tooth is how the tooth is going to heal. This means you need to make sure the tooth is placed straight and has the correct side facing forward. This gives the tooth the chance to reattach itself to the socket. If you wait longer than 30 minutes you will not be able to save the tooth. Once that part of the process is done, call your dentist immediately and have the tooth evaluated. If during the trauma you were not able to recover the tooth or to place it back in the socket, there are still options available. Just give us a call!

Most dental insurance plans will cover at least part of the cost of dental trauma treatment. However, it is always a good idea to check with your insurance provider before having any work done, just to be sure! Dental trauma treatment is considered a necessary procedure so most insurance companies will be happy to help you cover the cost.

No matter what type of dental trauma you’ve experienced, the team at WestLake Dental Care is here to help. We will work with you to come up with a treatment plan that fits your needs and budget, and we will make sure that you are comfortable every step of the way. Regardless of the type of dental trauma you’ve experienced, we will help to restore your smile as quickly as possible. Contact us today to see how we can help you!