Emergency Dentistry
Tooth Injury Treatment in Gladstone
Repairing teeth after a fall, a bite or a hit.
Accidents happen on the field, on the playground and at the dinner table. When a tooth is damaged, calling our office promptly is the best first step.
Exceptional Dentistry in Gladstone, MO
How tooth injuries are treated
A tooth can be hurt in many ways: biting down on something hard, a fall, a sports collision or a blow to the face. The damage ranges from a small chip in the enamel to a crack that reaches the nerve, a tooth that has been loosened or pushed out of position, or a tooth knocked out completely. Some injuries are obvious right away, while others, like a hairline crack, may only show up as pain when you bite or a tooth that slowly darkens. Your dentist starts by examining the tooth, the gums and the bite, often with X-rays, to see how deep the damage goes. The treatment then depends on what they find, with the goal of relieving discomfort and keeping as much of your natural tooth as possible.
Types of injuries
From minor chips to knocked-out teeth
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Chipped teeth
Small chips can often be smoothed or rebuilt with tooth-colored material through dental bonding.
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Cracked or broken teeth
A larger break may need a crown to hold the tooth together and protect it. Learn about Dental Crowns.
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Loosened or shifted teeth
A tooth that has been pushed out of place may be gently repositioned and stabilized while the supporting tissues settle.
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Knocked-out teeth
Time matters. Keep the tooth moist in milk or in your cheek, handle it only by the crown, and call right away.
When the nerve is affected
If a crack or a blow has reached the pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth, it may become inflamed or infected. Signs include lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, pain when biting, swelling nearby or a tooth that turns gray. In those cases your dentist may recommend a Root Canal to treat the inside of the tooth before it is restored. An injured tooth that seemed fine at first is often checked again later to make sure the nerve stays healthy.
What to do
Right after an injury
These steps can help protect the tooth until you reach the office. For more urgent situations, see emergency dental care.
- Call our office and describe what happened
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm water
- Save any pieces of the tooth and bring them with you
- Hold a cold compress against your cheek to help with swelling
- If a lip or cheek is bleeding, press gently with clean gauze
New patient special
$98
A $308 value for your first visit
Visiting us for the first time? Our new patient offer includes:
- Comprehensive exam
- Panoramic X-rays
- Bitewing digital X-rays
- Intraoral photos
- Smile evaluation
- Full gum evaluation
- Oral cancer screening
- TMJ and bite evaluation
- Review of your treatment options
- A written treatment plan
Why choose Marx Family Dental after a tooth injury?
We explain what happened to the tooth and walk you through the options before any treatment begins. Images from an intraoral camera help you see the damage for yourself.
Get help
Injured a tooth? Call us
Chipped, cracked or knocked loose, a damaged tooth should be looked at promptly. Call our office and we’ll help you figure out the next step.
The short answer
Tooth injury treatment is dental care for teeth that have been chipped, cracked, loosened, pushed out of place or knocked out after a fall, a bite or a blow to the face. Your dentist examines the tooth, the gums and the bite, often with X-rays, then may smooth or bond a chip, place a crown over a larger break, stabilize a shifted tooth or treat the nerve inside. The goal is to relieve discomfort and keep as much of your natural tooth as possible, which is why a damaged tooth should be looked at promptly.
Tooth Injury FAQ
- Can a chipped tooth be fixed?
- Often, yes, a chipped tooth can be repaired. Depending on the size of the chip, your dentist may smooth it, rebuild it with tooth-colored bonding, or recommend a crown or veneer. A larger break may need a crown to hold the tooth together and protect it.
- My tooth doesn’t hurt after the injury. Should I still come in?
- Yes, an injured tooth should still be examined even if it does not hurt. Some injuries, such as hairline cracks or damage to the nerve, do not cause pain at first and may only show up later as pain when you bite or a tooth that slowly darkens. An exam, often with X-rays, can reveal these problems before they get worse.
- Why is my injured tooth turning dark?
- A tooth that darkens after an injury may have damage to the nerve inside. If a crack or a blow has reached the pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth, it can become inflamed or infected, and graying is one of the signs. Let your dentist know so the tooth can be evaluated, since a root canal may be recommended to treat the inside of the tooth before it is restored.
- Can a knocked-out baby tooth be put back?
- Baby teeth are usually not put back after being knocked out. Replanting a baby tooth can harm the adult tooth developing underneath it. Call our office for guidance, since the area around the lost tooth may still need to be checked.
- How can I prevent tooth injuries during sports?
- Wearing a well-fitted mouth guard during contact sports and other high-risk activities helps protect the teeth. A mouth guard cushions the teeth against a hit or a fall, which are common causes of chipped, cracked and knocked-out teeth. Your dentist can talk with you about protecting your teeth for the activities you or your children take part in.
Your dentist
Meet Dr. Emily Marx
A skilled family dentist, Dr. Marx is passionate about helping patients feel comfortable while achieving their best smile. Meet Dr. Marx
