Dental avulsion

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC

Dental avulsion
Synonyms	Tooth avulsion
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Tooth loss, bleeding, pain
Complications	Infection, tooth resorption, tooth discoloration
Onset	Sudden, due to trauma
Duration	Immediate, requires urgent care
Types	N/A
Causes	Trauma to the mouth, sports injuries, accidents
Risks	Contact sports, falls, violence
Diagnosis	Clinical examination, dental X-ray
Differential diagnosis	Tooth fracture, subluxation, concussion (dental)
Prevention	Use of mouthguard, helmets
Treatment	Immediate reimplantation, endodontic therapy, splinting
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Variable, depends on time to reimplantation and care
Frequency	Common in children and young adults
Deaths	N/A

Overview of dental avulsion

Dental avulsion refers to the complete displacement of a tooth from its socket in the alveolar bone due to trauma. It is a dental emergency that requires immediate attention to increase the chances of successful reimplantation and recovery of the tooth.

Causes

Dental avulsion is most commonly caused by:

• Trauma from sports injuries
• Falls
• Accidents

Immediate Management

The immediate management of an avulsed tooth is crucial for its survival. The following steps are recommended: 1. Locate the tooth: Find the avulsed tooth and handle it by the crown, not the root, to avoid damaging the periodontal ligament cells. 2. Rinse the tooth: If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently with saline or milk. Avoid scrubbing or using soap. 3. Reimplantation: If possible, reinsert the tooth into its socket immediately. Ensure it is in the correct orientation. 4. Storage medium: If reimplantation is not possible, store the tooth in a suitable medium such as milk, saline, or the patient's own saliva. 5. Seek professional help: Visit a dentist or an emergency room as soon as possible.

Prognosis

The prognosis of an avulsed tooth depends on several factors, including:

• The time elapsed before reimplantation
• The storage medium used
• The condition of the periodontal ligament

Long-term Management

After reimplantation, the tooth may require:

• Root canal treatment
• Splinting to adjacent teeth for stabilization
• Regular follow-up to monitor for complications such as root resorption or ankylosis

Complications

Potential complications following dental avulsion include:

• Infection
• Root resorption
• Ankylosis
• Loss of the tooth

Prevention

Preventive measures to reduce the risk of dental avulsion include:

• Wearing mouthguards during sports
• Implementing safety measures to prevent falls and accidents

See also

• Dental trauma
• Tooth reimplantation
• Periodontal ligament

An avulsed tooth