How Do Dentists Treat Dental Accidents?

It’s no secret that kids sometimes play rough. Unfortunately, accidents happen, and one stray soccer ball or another incident could potentially put your child at risk of a dental accident. According to the World Health Organization, about 20% of people will experience dental trauma to their teeth. Read further to learn about what dental trauma is and how your local dentist for kids can protect your child’s teeth.

What Is Dental Trauma?

Dental trauma refers to any harm or injury that happens to your teeth. Common types of dental trauma include broken, chipped, or even missing teeth. Dental injuries happen more often than you might think, and they can be caused by sports accidents, eating something hard, or falling over. Hockey players, for instance, are notorious for their dental injuries. That’s why it’s so important to make sure your child is fitted for a mouthguard prior to getting out on the rink, field, or court.

How Do Dentists Treat Dental Injuries?

The good news is that your local dentist for kids can help treat your child’s dental injuries. Depending on the type of injury, your child’s dentist may recommend a filling, a veneer, or a crown. More serious dental injuries that impact the pulp of a permanent tooth may require a root canal.

But what if your child’s impacted tooth was a baby tooth? If a baby tooth needs to be prematurely removed (or was prematurely removed during their accident), then their dentist may recommend that they visit an orthodontist. An orthodontist can provide your child with space maintainers, which help to keep your child’s teeth in the right position until the permanent tooth comes in. Without space maintainers, the prematurely missing tooth could cause the other teeth around the space to shift.

Can You Prevent Dental Trauma?

One of the best ways to prevent dental trauma is to have your child wear a mouth guard while they play sports. This orthodontic device fits over the teeth and protects them from impact. In sports like hockey, some players wear a full face mask to protect themselves from flying hockey pucks.

Your local dentist for kids and orthodontists can help your child recover from dental injuries. If your child needs dental care after experiencing a chip, crack, or missing tooth, be sure to contact our office at Jacaranda Smiles today.