Injuries to the mouth can cause teeth to be pushed back into their sockets. Your endodontist or general dentist may reposition and stabilize your tooth. Root canal treatment is usually started within a few weeks of the injury and a medication, such as calcium hydroxide, will be placed inside the tooth. Eventually, a permanent root canal filling will be placed.
Sometimes a tooth may be pushed partially out of the socket. Again, your endodontist or general dentist may reposition and stabilize your tooth. If the pulp remains healthy, then no other treatment is necessary at this time. if the pulp becomes damaged or infected, root canal treatment will be required.
If an injury causes a tooth to be completely knocked out of your mouth, it is important that you are treated immediately! If this happens to you, keep the tooth moist. If possible, put it back into the socket. A tooth can be saved if it remains moist. You can even put the tooth in milk or a glass of water (add a pinch of salt.) 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; may influence the type of treatment you receive.
This procedure encourages the root to continue development as the pulp is healed. Soft tissue is covered with medication to encourage growth. The tip of the root (apex) will continue to close as the child gets older. In turn, the walls of the root canal will thicken. If the pulp heals, no additional treatment will be necessary. The more mature the root becomes, the better the chance to save the tooth.
In this case, the unhealthy pulp is removed. The doctors place medication into the root to help a hard tissue form near the root tip. This hardened tissue provides a barrier for the root canal filling. At this point, the root canal walls will not continue to develop, making the tooth susceptible to fractures. So, it is important to have the tooth properly restored by your dentist.
When a dental injury occurs, every second counts. Whether you’ve experienced a sudden impact or a knocked-out tooth, our Danbury team is prepared to provide the immediate, specialized care needed to save your smile and prevent long-term complications.
If a permanent tooth is knocked out, time is your biggest enemy. Handle the tooth by the crown (the chewing surface), never the root. Gently rinse it with water if it’s dirty, but do not scrub it. Try to place it back in the socket immediately. If that’s not possible, keep it moist by placing it in a container of milk or a specialized tooth preservation kit. Call our Danbury office immediately; for the best chance of saving the tooth, you should be seen within 30 to 60 minutes.
A tooth that has been pushed deeper into the socket, pulled partially out, or shifted sideways is considered a luxated tooth. Our specialists will carefully reposition the tooth and may use a temporary splint (bonding it to the healthy teeth next to it) to keep it stable while the bone and ligaments heal. We will also monitor the pulp to ensure it remains healthy and doesn’t require a root canal later.
Yes, but the success depends on where the fracture is located. A horizontal crack near the tip of the root has a much better prognosis than one near the gum line. We use digital radiography and CBCT (3D imaging) to see deep below the gums and determine the exact location of the break. Depending on the severity, we may stabilize the tooth with a splint or perform specialized endodontic treatment.
Absolutely. If a child’s permanent tooth is injured before it is fully formed, the “apex” (the end of the root) may still be open. We use specialized procedures like apexogenesis (encouraging the root to continue growing) or apexification (forming a hard barrier at the end of the root) to ensure the tooth remains strong and functional for life. It is vital to see a specialist who understands the unique biology of developing teeth.
