How to Reverse Dental Damage From an Auto Accident
By Robert Spoont | Published on May 17, 2011 | 0 Comments
People who are involved in automobile accidents can sustain serious injuries to their teeth, as well as the rest of their bodies. According to Boca Raton dentist Dr. Robert Spoont, the most common dental problems for auto accident victims are broken or fractured teeth.
As a dentist in Boca Raton who practices at Freedman & Spoont, P.A., Dr. Spoont explains that when a person thinks of an auto accident from a dental prospective, he thinks of trauma to the teeth – obviously, either by hitting something in the car or from having the lower jaw hit the upper teeth during the accident. This can easily cause teeth to break, chip, or fracture.
Dr. Spoont recently saw a patient who was in a situation like this. In this patient’s particular case, his lower jaw ended up hitting his upper teeth during the collision. This ended up fracturing his three front upper teeth.
If a tooth is physically fractured or broken off horizontally then it is obviously going to require a crown or some type of restoration, says Dr. Spoont. However, not every fracture is visible to the naked eye. In some cases, a patient may have a fracture line that feels sensitive but cannot be seen by anyone other than a dentist who knows what he is looking for.
Dr. Spoont says there are a lot of times when dental damage leads to tooth sensitivity issues as well. In these cases, Dr. Spoont says what most likely happened is that the nerve inside one or more teeth was damaged during the accident or the collision. In blunt trauma cases, the nerves inside certain teeth may die over time, and a patient will need endodontics or root canal therapy to get rid of the infection that will likely occur as a result. The sooner a patient can receive treatment in a scenario like this, the more likely the problem can be fixed in a quick and efficient way.
According to the Boca Raton dentist, people who have been involved in auto accidents need to see a dentist just as much as they need to see a doctor after the accident occurs. By visiting with a dental professional and having a full examination, auto accident victims can rule out the possibility of fracture lines or nerve damage and lessen their chances of getting infections as a result.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.