Understanding Traumatic Endodontic Injuries:

Dental trauma can be painful and upsetting, even if it is not life-threatening. These injuries often require endodontic treatment to save the tooth and prevent further problems.

At SL Endodontics, we provide specialist care to treat dental injuries, protect your oral health, and help you maintain a healthy and confident smile.

Cracked Tooth

Even though tooth enamel is the hardest material in the body, teeth can still crack due to wear, trauma, or pressure.

Cracks are often difficult to spot, even with an x-ray. Some patients may feel sensitivity or sharp pain when chewing, while others may have no pain at all. Pain usually occurs when the crack irritates the pulp inside the tooth.

Treatment for cracked teeth may involve restoration or placing a crown after root canal therapy to protect and strengthen the tooth.

Dislodged Teeth

A dislodged tooth, also called a luxated tooth, may be pushed inward, outward, or sideways after an injury.

If this happens, it is important to contact a dentist immediately so the tooth can be repositioned quickly.

If the pulp has been damaged, root canal treatment may be required to save the tooth.

Knocked-Out Tooth

A knocked-out tooth, also called an avulsed tooth, is a true dental emergency.

The chances of saving the tooth are highest if you see a dentist as soon as possible. Every hour that passes lowers the success rate.

If your tooth has been knocked out, carefully pick it up by the crown and avoid touching the root. Rinse it gently if needed, but do not scrub or handle it more than necessary.

If possible, place the tooth back into the socket and hold it in place with a clean cloth or gauze. If you cannot reinsert it, place the tooth in a glass of milk and go to a dentist immediately.

Once reinserted, root canal treatment is usually required within one to two weeks.

Apexogenesis, Apexification and Resorption

Some dental injuries affect immature teeth that have not fully developed, while others may affect mature teeth.

• Apexogenesis encourages continued root development in a young tooth with damaged pulp.
• Apexification is used on non-vital teeth with incomplete root formation to create a calcified barrier at the root tip.
• Resorption treatment removes harmful cells that destroy part of a tooth. A special chemical treatment may also be applied to reduce the chance of it happening again.

Specialist Trauma Care

Every dental trauma is different and requires specialist knowledge to manage properly.

At SL Endodontics, we are experienced in diagnosing and treating all types of dental trauma. Our goal is always to save the natural tooth whenever possible and restore comfort and function for the long term.

Root canal treatment, also called endodontics, is a dental procedure used to treat infection at the centre of a tooth.

The treatment is not painful and it can save a tooth that might otherwise need to be removed completely.

Why it is Needed

Infection at the centre of a tooth, known as the root canal, is caused by bacteria that live in the mouth and enter the tooth.

This can happen after tooth decay, leaking fillings, or damage caused by trauma such as a fall.

When Root Canal Treatment is Required

Root canal treatment is needed when dental x-rays show that the pulp of a tooth has been damaged by infection.

If the pulp becomes infected, it starts to die and bacteria multiply and spread.

The first symptoms of pulp infection may include:

• Pain when eating or drinking hot or cold food and drinks
• Pain when biting or chewing
• A tooth that feels loose

As the infection develops, these symptoms may go away because the pulp has died. This does not mean the tooth has healed. Instead, the infection spreads through the root canal system.

Later symptoms may include:

• Pain when biting or chewing returning
• Swelling of the gum near the affected tooth
• Pus leaking from the tooth
• Swelling of the face
• The tooth becoming darker in colour

If the tooth is infected, the pulp cannot heal on its own. Leaving the infection untreated can make it worse and reduce the chances of successful root canal treatment.

How Root Canal Treatment is Done

To treat the infection, the bacteria must be removed.

This can be done in two ways:

• Cleaning out the bacteria from the root canal system (root canal treatment)
• Removing the tooth (extraction)

Extraction is not usually recommended as it is always better to keep natural teeth where possible.

Once the bacteria are removed, the root canal is filled and the tooth is sealed with a filling or a crown. In most cases, the surrounding tissues will heal naturally.

Before treatment begins, you will be given a local anaesthetic so the procedure should be painless and feel no different from having a filling.

Root canal treatment is very successful. In most cases, around 9 out of 10 teeth can last up to 10 years after treatment.

Recovery After Root Canal Treatment

It is important to take care of your teeth during recovery. You should avoid biting on hard foods until treatment is complete.

After the final stage of treatment, the restored tooth should no longer be painful. Some sensitivity for a few days is normal and can be managed with over-the-counter painkillers.