How Mouth Injuries Can Lead to Tooth Loss

Tooth loss has a number of causes, and some of the most painful ones are the result of oral injuries. Thankfully there are many treatment options available to address tooth loss, including dental bridges and artificial tooth roots known as dental implants.

We'd like to consider how injuries to the face and mouth can cause tooth loss. We'll then take a brief moment to consider how a lost tooth can be saved and what options there are for replacing teeth that are missing.

Serious Injuries Can Cause Irreparable Fractures

When you suffer from a major injury to the mouth or face, this can result in major damage to the teeth. It's not uncommon for tooth loss occur in cases of serious trauma. Even major damage to a tooth such as a severe crack or chip may necessitate extraction to prevent infection and ensure optimal dental health.

Common Dental Injuries That Cause Tooth Loss

There are a number of dental injuries that can lead to tooth loss. They include the following:

• Serious Slips and Falls – Slips and falls are one of the leading causes of dental injuries. If you fall face first and cannot catch yourself in time, this can lead to major fractures and the loss of a tooth.

• Vehicle Accidents – Whether it's a motor vehicle collision or a bike accident, a serious vehicle accident can result in the loss of a tooth due to severe oral trauma.

• Sports Injuries – If you participate in contact sports or combat sports, there is a risk that you may lose a tooth or suffer some kind of dental injury. This is especially true for people who play football, hockey, or rugby, or who are involved in boxing, mixed martial arts (MMA), or wrestling.

• Assaults and Physical Altercations – If you get into a fight or are jumped by people, you run the risk of losing a tooth is you sustain a blow or multiple blows to the head and face.

Given the causes above, it's important that you wear proper face, mouth, and head protection when playing contact sports or participating in contact sports. Helmets and/or safety restraints should be worn while operating a vehicle as well.

Determining If a Tooth Can Be Saved

If you lose a tooth and it is intact, it might be able to be saved. Be sure to place the tooth in a cup of milk and bring it to the dentist right away. With proper emergency care, a tooth can be fixed back into place.

Treating Serious Damage to a Tooth

If your oral injury resulted in a major tooth fracture, there are different restorations that can help repair the damage. This includes bonding materials, inlays, onlays, and crowns. The ideal restoration will depend on the nature of the damage.

Replacing a Missing Tooth

If you have lost a tooth and it cannot be anchored back into place, there are a few options to address your tooth loss. This includes the use of a dental bridge, the use of a denture, or the surgical placement of dental implants.

As with the restorations we noted above, we can go over all of these treatment options with you in greater detail during a consultation.

Learn More About Your Restorative Dentistry Options

For more information about treating tooth damage and dental injuries, we encourage you to contact our cosmetic and restorative dentistry practice today. Our team will work closely with you to enhance your smile.