Our teeth go through a lot throughout our lifetimes, and traumatic dental injuries are relatively common, especially in childhood and adolescence.
From minor chips to complete tooth loss, dental trauma can take many forms. But in many cases, dental injuries aren’t just surface level. They also frequently impact the deeper, softer internal structures within the teeth and beneath the protective enamel layer. If this occurs, endodontic treatment may be necessary.
What is endodontics?
Endodontics is a specialty within dentistry focused on the diagnosis and treatment of dental health issues related to the inner soft tissues of the tooth.
Each tooth has hard outer layers: the dentin and the enamel. Beneath these protective layers lies the pulp, a soft center made of living connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves. These structures facilitate the delivery of essential nutrients to the tooth. A damaged or infected pulp can lead to a plethora of unpleasant health complications, including severe pain and discomfort.
If you’ve sustained damage to the soft tissues within your teeth, Dr. King can provide effective, evidence-based dental treatment to restore your tooth and keep your smile strong and healthy for years to come.
Types of dental trauma
Dental trauma describes injury caused by direct impact to the hard and soft tissues in the mouth, including the teeth. Traumatic dental injuries can have several causes, including contact sports, car accidents, falls, and physical altercations.
Common manifestations of dental trauma include:
- Tooth pain
- Dislodged teeth
- Avulsed (knocked out) teeth
- Cracked teeth
- Discolored teeth
- Fractured bones
Endodontic treatments for traumatic dental injuries
Treating fractured teeth
If the underlying pulp is damaged due to a fracture, endodontic treatment is generally necessary to prevent the invasion of bacteria into the nerve system, which can lead to inflammation or infection.
Endodontic treatment for fractured teeth depends on a variety of factors, including the location, severity, type of fracture, and dental history.
Treating discolored teeth
If one or a few of your teeth are darker or discolored following a physical impact, this could be a sign of a traumatic dental injury. In some cases, a jolt to your tooth can damage connective inner tissue, causing necrosis (death) of the nerve endings in your tooth.
Unlike external stains caused by certain foods and drinks, discoloration due to a dead tooth can’t be fixed with typical whitening treatments. At Endodontic Excellence of Atlanta, we offer state-of-the-art root canal and internal bleaching procedures to repair the tooth structure, remove discoloration as a result of intrinsic staining, and restore the look of your smile.
Are you suffering from a traumatic dental injury? Get advanced endodontic treatment in Atlanta!
At Endodontic Excellence of Atlanta, you can rest assured you’ll receive the most advanced, effective, and comfort-focused treatment available in modern endodontics. Dr. Megan King and her skilled team utilize modern technology to provide convenient and reliable results to every patient.
Contact us today to schedule your first appointment – no referral needed!