Dental Trauma / Road Traffic Accidents

Dental injuries include damage to the teeth, lips, gums and tongue. They can result from sport or road traffic accidents, as well as fights and falls. The most common injury is a broken or lost tooth. 

Three sorts of injuries commonly occur:-
1) Broken or fractured teeth. The doctor has been able to assess the damage to your teeth by examining your mouth and, if necessary, by taking X-rays. If the broken tooth has left a sharp edge that might cut into your tongue, lips or cheek the edge may have been smoothed with a drill or a temporary filling inserted. You will now need to see your own dentist so that the tooth can receive long-term treatment (eg the missing part replaced by a permanent filling).
2) Loose teeth. If the tooth is loose but still in the socket it may have been "splinted" into place. This allows the tooth to heal in the correct position.
3) Avulsed teeth. An avulsed tooth is one that has come completely out of its socket. The treatment is usually to re-insert it as soon as possible into the socket and then use a splint to keep it in the right place and prevent further movement. How successful this will be depends on how long the tooth was out of the socket and how well it was looked after whilst it was out.

What is a dental splint?

The most common splint is made of clear plastic. The splint has to be made specially for you and so impressions of your teeth will have been taken. The splint often stays in place with suction but sometimes needs to be cemented to prevent it moving. Occasionally the best way to splint a tooth in position is to use a thin wire that attaches the damaged tooth to nearby healthy teeth. Splints are left in place for between one and two weeks.

Are there any problems to look out for?

Bleeding - some oozing from around the site of trauma is to be expected. Significant bleeding is very unusual and should it occur it can usually be stopped by applying pressure over the area for at least 10 minutes with a rolled up handkerchief or swab.
Infection - this is rare and does not usually occur for a week or so following trauma. Increasing discomfort or an unpleasant taste can be a sign of infection.