Your child stumbles and bumps her mouth. Her gums are bleeding, and one of her front teeth feels a little loose when you lift her. What ought you to do? Keep your cool first. Next, make a dental appointment for kids.
Your child may have a subluxated tooth, a dental injury that has to be looked at right once by a skilled dentist at Kids Dentist Indianapolis IN but that often recovers without the need for invasive procedures. Continue reading to learn more!
- Subluxation of the teeth in children
Dental injuries may be divided into two categories: those that affect the teeth directly (such as a chipped tooth) and those that affect the tissues that support the teeth, such as the gums.
Tooth subluxation is the technical term for when the tissues supporting a tooth are injured in a manner that causes the tooth to become loose yet stay in its natural position. (In contrast, a tooth that has grown loose in addition to moving from its natural position is said to have undergone tooth luxation.) Although it’s not always the case, bleeding in the gums around a subluxed tooth is often seen. Children’s front teeth are most often affected by tooth subluxation, which frequently occurs as a consequence of trauma, such as a fall.
- Tooth subluxation causes
It takes a lot of power to harm the ligaments and tissues of a tooth. Falls are the main reason for subluxated teeth in young children. Injuries sustained in sports, assaults, and violent acts are some more reasons for tooth subluxation.
- Signs of a subluxated tooth
The signs of a subluxated tooth vary depending on its nature. Symptoms might include:
- Gum bleeding.
- When a tooth is tapped, a high-pitched metallic (ankylotic) sound is heard.
- The tooth loosened.
- Sensitivity or discomfort in the teeth.
- Testing and diagnosis
A dentist at Pediatric Dentist Indianapolis IN will inquire about symptoms and the potential root cause of subluxation to identify the condition. They also inquire about any past trauma or injuries.
- Examine the tooth for any signs of looseness.
- Check to see whether the tooth is sore or sensitive to the touch.
- Tap your tooth to hear ankylotic (high-pitched metallic) noises.
- Have your teeth X-rayed.
- Perform a pulp sensitivity test to check for pulp damage.
- Teeth luxation types
There are modest to severe tooth locations. In terms of severity, the five forms of luxated teeth are as follows:
- Concussion: When the tooth-supporting structures are injured, a concussion results (periodontal tissues). Even if the tooth hasn’t loosened or migrated, it often feels sensitive to the touch.
- Subluxation: When the periodontal tissues are damaged, a tooth becomes subluxated. Although loose, the tooth is still in the same place. When touched, the tooth often feels sensitive. A gumline bleed is possible.
- Extrusive luxation: This condition results from the separation of the periodontal ligament. The socket is still intact but the tooth has been pushed out of it. The tooth seems to be quite loose and longer than normal (elongated).
- Lateral luxation: A lateral luxation occurs when the periodontal ligament separates and the bone that supports the teeth breaks. The tooth seems to be tilted either forward or backward from the gumline but is not loose. When a dentist taps your tooth, they will hear a high-pitched metallic sound (ankylotic).
- Intrusive luxation: An intrusive luxation occurs when a tooth, which is not loose, slides up into the socket, causing a fracture of the alveolar bone. The dentist taps on a tooth and hears an ankylotic sound.
- Taking care of a subluxated tooth
Most of the time, tooth subluxation will resolve on its own without medical intervention. The pediatric dentist at Pediatric Dentistry Indianapolis IN should still be seen as soon as possible following the accident, however. A tooth subluxation is sometimes accompanied by additional dental injuries, some of which may not be readily apparent to the untrained eye.
To assess if more damage has occurred, such as bone damage, damage to the tooth’s root, or (in the case of a subluxated primary tooth) damage to the replacement permanent tooth, your child’s dentist will examine the afflicted region and take dental X-rays. Treatment may be necessary if the damage goes beyond simple tooth subluxation.
The dentist would often advise just keeping an eye on the impacted tooth if no more harm is seen. This normally necessitates making multiple follow-up visits for your kid so that the dentist may check the tooth for indications of infection or an abscess, damage to the dental pulp, and issues with tooth growth (or, in the case of a subluxated primary tooth, damage to the replacement permanent tooth).
The dentist for your kid will also go through the best ways to take care of the subluxed tooth with you to encourage healing and prevent infection. In general, it’s vital to maintain the region surrounding the injury as clean as you can and to refrain from using the subluxated tooth to bite into hard items (like pretzels) until the damage has healed. The specific advice will depend on a variety of circumstances.
- Tooth care after treatment
You should:
- Brush carefully with a soft toothbrush after each meal to help preserve teeth after restoration.
- For a week, only eat soft foods and drink liquids.
- For a week, rinse your mouth out twice a day with a mouthwash containing chlorhexidine.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) should be used as required to relieve discomfort.
Additionally, you’ll need regular dental checks. The subluxation will be watched by the dentist over time to make sure it doesn’t worsen. In the case of a small subluxation that didn’t need early treatment, this follow-up is particularly crucial.
- Prevention
A subluxated tooth often results from injury. It can be prevented by,
- Using a seatbelt while in a vehicle, you may lessen the likelihood that your child will get a subluxated tooth.
- Using a helmet when biking, scootering, or engaging in specific activities.
- Using a mouthguard if your child participates in sports.
When the structures supporting the tooth are damaged, tooth subluxation occurs. For fast diagnosis and treatment, you should see a dentist at Children Dental Center Indianapolis IN if you believe your child has a subluxated tooth. The nature and severity of the damage determine the best course of treatment for tooth subluxation. Dental trauma cases in children, notably those involving subluxated teeth, have been seen often by dentists at Childrens Dentist Indianapolis IN.
