Teeth are structures that belong to the oral cavity and perform a number of important roles for the health of the body.
Teeth are indispensable in the eating process, as they direct and grind food and then help the digestion process by forming a food bowl.
Another important role of the teeth, in addition to the one mentioned above, is to facilitate phonation.
Some syllables are pronounced by putting the tongue in contact with the front teeth, so the absence of teeth at this level leads to the emission of unclear sounds and the projection of saliva outwards.
Like any other part of the body, teeth are also at risk of trauma.
The fact that they are located in the anterior part of the facial mass makes them susceptible to injury.
Either by accident or as a result of a hard blow, teeth can suffer minor or major loss of hard substance or even be avulsed from the dental arches.
The patient needs to know what to do in each of these situations.
Most patients, especially in recent years, present themselves to the emergency department or dentist when they suffer an injury that damages the teeth or the soft tissues of the oral cavity.
Unfortunately, some patients present too late, when the tooth can no longer be saved.
Dental trauma can take various forms, depending on the type of impact and the shock to the tooth:
Some teeth may suffer minor hard tissue loss. In this case, even if only a corner of that tooth has broken off, the patient should try to keep the fragment, as it may be impacted. In this case, if only a small piece of the tooth has been lost, usually the remaining tooth at the arch does not show any mobility. However, the dentist will carry out regular vitality tests to make sure that the tooth is still vascularized and is supplied with nutrients. If the vitality tests are negative, the tooth will undergo endodontic treatment to remove the pulp, the dead nerve in the root canals.
In the case of major loss of tooth fragments, the procedure is the same and the patient must report to the dentist within one hour. If the fracture is penetrating, deep, the patient suffers painful symptoms and the tooth must be treated endodontically. Most teeth that lose large tooth fragments will also lose their vitality. Often, the remaining tooth also shows mobility. The dentist will assess the local situation and indicate the appropriate treatment. If a large portion of the root is also lost, the tooth cannot be recovered and extraction will be performed.
At other times, the teeth are not missing, but may be dislocated, so that the suffering will spread to the periodontal ligaments.
In cases of severe trauma, the tooth is avulsed, expelled from the tooth socket.
Whatever the situation, the traumatized tooth must be preserved, in saliva, under the tongue, in saline or even water, until we reach the dentist.
