There's no denying that car accidents can result in serious injuries and, in many cases, death. While it's true that the most severe injuries often occur in more severe collisions, even a relatively minor accident can result in fairly severe dental trauma. Unfortunately, this type of injury is all too often overlooked after a car accident. Dentists don't regularly ask their patients about traffic accidents, so there is little chance of anyone realizing that they are experiencing pain due to an injury sustained in a car crash.
As you're likely to recognize them as among the most severe pains the body can handle, there are dental injuries that can take some time to develop, and those that become apparent shortly after an accident. Treating dental injuries can be expensive, that's why you need help from a personal injury lawyer. They can help you get the compensation you deserve to pay for your medical expenses and lost wages while recovering from your dental injuries. To learn more, check this great example can be found at Arizona car accident Injury Lawyers.
Types of Dental Injuries You Could Sustain In a Car Crash
Treatable dental injuries are among the most overlooked when it comes to car accident injuries, but they can have lasting effects. For example, if you have an injury to your jaw or teeth, you may find eating certain foods painful for months or even years after the accident. You could also experience discomfort when talking or laughing.
There are many different types of dental injuries that can occur during a car crash. The most common types include:
This kind of injury is usually a result of a strong blow to the face from another vehicle or from pieces of broken glass from your own windshield or windows. If a tooth has been fractured, it will be extremely sensitive to cold and hot and will also cause pain when chewing food. In some cases, you may even experience difficulty breathing since air can enter through the small gap created by the fracture and cause swelling in your throat area. For this reason, it is best to seek immediate treatment after sustaining a fractured tooth. Once you get the proper care, you should start experiencing relief almost immediately.
If a tooth is hit hard enough to break off its crown, but not to knock it out of the socket, there may be tearing or laceration in the mouth. This results in a considerable amount of pain, bleeding, and swelling.
If you were involved in an accident where you were thrown out of the vehicle, then you could have one or several teeth that became loosened but still attached to the gum. In case such teeth have not been knocked out completely, then they may have been damaged and become less mobile than expected. It is essential for you to receive proper medical attention in this condition. Otherwise, these loose teeth can come off and cause further damage in the weeks following the accident.
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots used to replace natural tooth roots lost due to an injury or illness. One of the potential complications of a car crash is that these implants can be displaced or completely removed from the sockets in which they have been placed. You should seek immediate medical help if you are experiencing displaced implants.
One or several teeth could be knocked out of the gingiva or gums. This is one of the most serious dental injuries because it requires immediate attention and surgical repair to prevent severe infection and complications.
Signs You Need To See a Dentist after a Car Accident
You often hear that a trip to the dentist is a great way to boost your overall health. But what happens if you have to see a dentist after a car accident? Are dental problems resulting from an auto accident something to pay attention to? What are some signs you should look out for?
Your dentist can help you with that, but you should also be aware of some signs that might let you know when it's time to make an appointment. So, do you need dental care after a car accident? Here are some signs to watch for:
One of the most common symptoms after a car accident is a pain in the mouth. Your mouth could feel sore or bruised even if there are no visible injuries. This means that you may have experienced trauma to the facial bones or inner gums during the crash. The injury could be due to whiplash from sudden impact, extreme acceleration or deceleration, improper seat belt use, direct impact with another car, or other causes. As such, you will need to see a dentist for an examination and consultation, especially if the pain persists beyond a few days.
The dentist will examine the area around your teeth to determine whether or not there has been any damage to the gums, ligaments, and nerves of the mouth.
If food starts sticking in your throat or if you notice that swallowing is painful, this could also be an indication of damage in and around the mouth. Again, it's not going to hurt until something gets in the way of how things work normally.
If you are experiencing sensitivity when biting down on food or drink or brushing your teeth, it is likely because one of the nerves has been compromised due to trauma from your accident.
This is one of the most common symptoms of a dental injury. In many cases, this will occur at the site where the trauma occurred. It may also spread to other parts of your face such as your lips and cheeks if there is extensive damage.
Whenever there is trauma to the mouth or teeth, bleeding is common, but it can become severe if there are broken blood vessels caused by the impact from the crash.
If you experience any redness and swelling of your cheeks or lips after an accident, it could be due to internal bleeding in your mouth. If this happens, you need to consult with a dentist as soon as possible because bleeding can cause infection if left untreated.
Post-Accident Dental Care
If your dental injuries aren't too severe, you can usually wait until after you recover from the initial trauma before seeking treatment. However, some dentists say it's best to see a dentist as soon as possible after an accident — especially if there's blood in your mouth. Even if it's just a small cut in the soft tissue of your mouth, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause serious problems if not treated quickly.
To help prevent infection, avoid eating and drinking right after an accident and try to spit out any blood in your mouth. A minor injury doesn't necessarily mean you'll require emergency care. Still, it's important to watch for swelling and excessive bleeding that could indicate a more serious problem.
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Article from Atty. Ferguson- Your Legal Expert
Jason M. Ferguson, the founder of Ferguson Law Group, started his career working for an automobile insurance company as a trial attorney before owning his injury law firm for over 20 years. Attorney Ferguson has a unique experience, having tried cases on both sides of the court system in personal injury trials, unlike many other lawyers. Ferguson also served over 14 years as an Army Reserve officer and the Georgia Air National Guard. The Albany Herald recognized him as one of southwest Georgia’s “40 under 40” in 2010.