Dental trauma care covers the diagnosis and treatment of injuries to teeth, gums and bone caused by knocks or accidents. It’s a common situation in sport, especially in contact disciplines, hockey, cycling, skating or outdoor activities.
A trauma can cause anything from a small crack to a fracture or the complete loss of a tooth, as well as nerve damage that requires root canal treatment. Time is critical: acting quickly can make the difference between saving the tooth and losing it.
Dental emergencies
We provide our patients with a dental emergency phone line, +34 619 186 579, to respond immediately to any trauma. We recommend coming to the clinic as soon as possible after any knock or impact to the mouth.
What to do after a knock, minute by minute
- Tooth knocked out completely: pick it up by the crown, without touching the root. If it’s dirty, rinse it with water or saline without rubbing it. If possible, put it back in its socket; if not, keep it in milk or saliva (never in water or dry) and come to the clinic as soon as possible.
- Tooth loosened or displaced: don’t try to reposition it yourself. Come to the clinic as soon as possible to have it stabilised and the nerve assessed.
- Fracture or chip: keep the fragment if you find it, it may be useful for the reconstruction. Avoid chewing on that side until the check-up.
- Wound to the gum or lip: press with clean gauze to control bleeding and come to the clinic if it doesn’t stop within a few minutes.
Prevention in sport
For patients who play sport regularly, we recommend custom mouthguards as a preventive measure against dental trauma. More on custom mouthguards and on sports dentistry.
Frequently asked questions
A whole tooth has fallen out, what do I do?
Pick the tooth up by the crown (never the root), rinse it without rubbing if it's dirty and, if possible, put it back in its socket. If you can't, keep it in milk or saliva and get to the clinic as soon as possible: the less time that passes, the higher the chance of successfully re-implanting it.
I've cracked or chipped a tooth, is it urgent?
It depends on the depth. Even if it doesn't hurt, it's worth getting it checked as soon as possible: a crack that reaches the pulp can become infected if left untreated.
When should I call the dental emergency line?
For any knock with intense pain, a loosened, fractured or knocked-out tooth, or a gum wound that won't stop bleeding. It's better to call unnecessarily than to let time pass.