Dislodged Teeth

Injuries to the mouth can push teeth back into their sockets. Your endodontist or general dentist may reposition and stabilize your tooth and monitor healing. If required, root canal treatment is usually started within a few weeks of the injury and a medication may be placed inside the tooth. Eventually, a permanent root canal filling will be placed.

Avulsed Teeth

If an injury causes a tooth to be completely knocked out of its socket, it is important that you are treated immediately. If this happens to you, keep the tooth moist and if possible, put it back into the socket. A tooth can be saved if it remains moist, such as by placing it in milk or a glass of water (add a pinch of salt to the water). Your Endodontist may start root canal treatment based upon the stage of root development. The length of time the tooth was out of your mouth and the way the tooth was stored impacts long-term tooth survival and what treatment you will receive.

Injuries in children

An injured immature tooth may need one of the following procedures to improve the chances of saving the tooth:

  • Apexogenesis
    This procedure encourages the root to continue development as the pulp heals. The pulp tissue is covered with medication to encourage growth of the tip of the root (apex). In turn, the walls of the root canal will thicken. If the pulp heals completely, no additional treatment will be necessary.
  • Apexification
    In this case, the unhealthy pulp is removed. The doctor places a medication into the root to help a hard tissue form near the root tip. After hard tissue forms, root canal therapy is performed and the tooth is properly restored by your dentist.