Dental trauma

Dental trauma is any injury to your teeth, gums, jawbone or soft tissues of your mouth. There are many types. They include chipped teeth, cracked teeth, loosened or moved teeth and teeth knocked out of the mouth.

The first thing to do is call a dentist. If you have a fractured tooth, try to find any broken pieces and bring them to the appointment. Some injuries, like a slightly chipped tooth, can wait for an appointment. Other injuries, like a knocked-out tooth or a broken jaw, need immediate treatment.

For a knocked-out tooth, rinse it in clean water, hold it by the crown and try to gently place it back in its socket. If that is not possible, bring it in a container. Our office describes urgent care on its emergency dentistry page. The office is closed Friday through Sunday.