Dental Trauma and Treatment in Children

The most common problem in children after tooth decay is mouth and tooth injuries. Baby tooth injuries are especially seen in children around the age of 1 who are just learning to walk. Permanent tooth injuries are usually seen during school years, as a result of pool accidents in the summer, and in children who are involved in sports. Other than these, bicycle and traffic accidents, falls, fights and physical violence are among the causes of tooth injuries.

As a result of trauma, there may be fractures in milk teeth or permanent teeth, the tooth may be completely dislodged, buried in the gum, displaced, root fractures may occur, injuries may occur in the lips, cheeks, soft tissues in the mouth and surrounding support tissues. Injuries that occur as a result of trauma usually require emergency treatment and in such cases, the family or teacher should remain calm and apply to the pediatric dentist or the nearest clinic as soon as possible.

When, where and how the trauma occurred is extremely important in terms of the treatment process to be followed and the success of the treatment. Other important factors include the child's age, general health status, whether any treatment has been given, whether there is pain in the teeth, and whether the child has had a trauma before.

As a result of trauma; only the tooth, tooth and root, only the root or surrounding supporting tissues may be injured. The dentist will perform a detailed clinical and radiographic examination to make a correct diagnosis and apply appropriate treatment options.

What should not be forgotten in primary tooth injuries is that the permanent tooth bud developing under the tooth may be affected. The roots of primary teeth are in close contact with the permanent tooth bud in the jaw. Therefore, injuries in the form of displacement or embedding in the gums of primary teeth can also affect the permanent tooth bud.

If a tooth is broken as a result of an injury, the broken piece of the tooth should be tried to be found, washed under running water and brought to the dentist. If the piece is suitable, it can be glued back to the tooth with special methods. In cases where the piece is not suitable or cannot be found, the broken part of the tooth can be completed aesthetically with composite fillings.

If the tooth has completely come out of the mouth, it should be washed under running water without touching the root, stored in milk or water and brought to the dentist as soon as possible. It is very important not to touch the root of the tooth and not to damage the tissues there. Teeth that have been stored under appropriate conditions and brought in a short time can be placed back in place according to the condition of the bone and surrounding tissues as a result of clinical examination. In this case, the dentist will decide on the most appropriate treatment option.

If the tooth is loose as a result of trauma but has not been dislodged, a dentist should be consulted as soon as possible.

The use of mouth guards (sports guards) is extremely important in preventing tooth fractures, jaw fractures and soft tissue injuries that may occur as a result of sports accidents. Mouth guards act as a cushion between the teeth and prevent direct damage to the teeth and jaw by softening the force that occurs on the teeth at the time of trauma. There are ready-made types of mouth guards as well as types that are specially prepared for the person in a laboratory environment.

In cases of dental injuries, going to the dentist as soon as possible plays the most important role in the success of the treatment. Traumatized teeth should definitely be under the supervision of a dentist. The dentist will evaluate the teeth and surrounding tissues clinically and radiographically at intervals deemed necessary and will make appropriate recommendations.

Pediatric Dentist Cansu Uzun Önalan