How can we help you?
We know that understanding what to expect can make a real difference in how you feel when you walk through our door. That's why we've put together answers to the questions we hear most often.
Don't see what you're looking for? Our team is always genuinely happy to answer our patients' questions.
Dental Trauma Management
A knocked-out permanent tooth is a dental emergency. The first steps you take can affect the chance of saving the tooth.
If possible:
- Pick up the tooth by the crown, not the root
- Do not scrub the tooth or remove tissue from the root
- Gently rinse it if needed
- Try placing it back into the socket without forcing it
- If that is not possible, keep it moist in milk or inside your cheek
Contact an endodontist immediately. The sooner the tooth is evaluated, the better the chance of successful treatment.
Some injured teeth heal without treatment, while others develop problems later. The outcome depends on the type of injury, the extent of damage, and how the tooth responds over time.
Even when a tooth appears normal after an injury, the pulp inside the tooth may have been affected. Regular monitoring and appropriate testing help determine whether additional treatment is needed.
Not always. A traumatized tooth does not automatically require root canal treatment.
The need for treatment depends on factors such as:
- The type and severity of the injury
- Whether the pulp remains healthy
- Symptoms and testing results
- Changes seen on imaging
At ARCS, we carefully evaluate the tooth before recommending treatment. Our goal is always to provide the right treatment at the right time.
Yes. Trauma can sometimes damage the blood supply to the pulp, causing the tooth to lose vitality over time.
This process may happen immediately or develop gradually. A tooth that becomes darker, develops sensitivity, causes pain, or shows changes on dental imaging should be evaluated by an endodontist.
You should contact an endodontist as soon as possible after a significant dental injury, especially if the tooth is knocked out, displaced, fractured, or painful.
Early evaluation allows your doctor to identify problems that may not be visible and provide treatment recommendations that give the tooth the best possible chance.
Yes. Some teeth affected by trauma may appear healthy initially but develop complications months or years later.
Possible delayed problems include:
- Pulp death
- Infection
- Root resorption
- Changes around the root
If you have a history of dental trauma and notice changes in the tooth, an evaluation can help determine what is happening.