The number of car accidents that involve dental injuries is staggering. An estimated 1 in 5 car accident victims sustains a serious oral injury. If you have been involved in a car accident in New York because of someone's negligence, work with an expert injury attorney soon as possible. We can help you get the compensation you need so you can restore your smile through oral surgery. You need funds for your damaged teeth to rebuild the area around them so they can function properly again.
Car accidents can leave victims with severely damaged teeth, and sometimes even fatal injuries. In fact, more people suffer from dental injuries from car accidents than any other type of injury. According to the American Dental Association, an estimated 15 million Americans suffer an oral injury every year.
Common dental injuries from car accidents
When you are in a car accident, the first thing that comes to mind is being injured. You may also be concerned about your dental health. Most people think they will get minor injuries, but they may end up with more serious injuries than they first thought.
The most common dental injuries from car accidents include:
• Fractured teeth
The most common type of dental injury that comes from car accidents is a broken tooth. This is because many people are not wearing their seat belts while driving and they may hit their teeth when they hit the steering wheel or dashboard. A fractured tooth is a dental injury that can cause pain, swelling, and bleeding. It's important to get dental treatment right away because this type of injury can lead to permanent damage if left untreated.
Some types of teeth fractures are:
Cone fractures — These occur when the tooth is knocked out of its socket. They're especially likely if you hit your head on something during the accident, or if you're ejected from the car.
Wedge fractures — These are similar to cone fractures in that they happen when you hit your head, but wedge fractures tend to be more severe because they involve more damage than a simple cone fracture does.
Diastematous fractures — This type of fracture is caused by an impact that causes a large amount of force to be applied against the tooth's root. The force may also cause the surrounding tissue to tear or break apart slightly. Because this type of fracture involves more damage than other types do, it's important for you to seek medical attention right away following an accident involving broken teeth.
• Jaw fractures
The jaw is the most important tooth-bearing organ in the body. It has three basic functions:
- to open and close our mouths and make facial expressions, and
- to protect the soft tissues of the face from injury.
- to hold teeth in place,
The jaw contains both hard and soft tissues. The bones of the face are connected to these tissues by ligaments and muscles. Injuries to these soft tissues can cause serious damage that may lead to permanent facial damage or even death.
Jaw fractures are among the most common dental injuries suffered in car accidents; about 30 percent of all jaw fractures occur as a result of colliding with an object like a steering wheel or dashboard. Injuries to the bones of the jaws can be treated with surgery or a procedure called plate fixation, which involves using metal plates to hold broken bones together until they heal.
• Internal injuries
Internal injuries often occur when the head of your upper jaw is crushed in a collision, or when you sustain a blow to the back of your mouth. If you have suffered an internal dental injury, then you should seek immediate medical attention. You will also need to take steps to prevent further damage to your teeth and gums.
Internal injuries are very serious and can cause internal bleeding, which can lead to a loss of blood pressure and shock, as well as damage to the organs and tissues. Internal injuries can also lead to infections that could be life-threatening if not treated properly.
If you're involved in a car accident, it's important to know what type of internal injuries you might sustain so that you can seek medical treatment immediately after the crash.
• Concussion
A concussion is a type of brain injury that occurs as a result of a blow to the head, either direct or indirect. Concussions are not caused by one specific event; they occur when your head hits an object hard enough to cause your brain to hit the inside of your skull. Your brain will bounce back and forth between both sides of your skull until it stops moving and then stays still.
If you suffer multiple concussions in a short period of time, this can lead to long-term problems with memory loss and confusion as well as other cognitive disabilities like dementia or even Parkinson's disease later on in life.
• Tongue lacerations
A tongue laceration is a serious dental injury that can be caused by a car accident. In most cases, the tongue is torn from the bottom of the mouth. This injury requires immediate attention to prevent infection and bleeding. A tongue laceration may also require stitches to close the wound, depending on how severe it is.
The Cost of Treating Dental Injuries
The average cost of a dental surgery following an accident is $3,000 and the average cost of a root canal is $2,700.
There are several reasons for this:
1) The dentist will have to remove the denture and replace it with an artificial tooth. This may not be possible if there are complications such as nerve damage or infection in the mouth.
2) The dentist will have to extract any broken teeth, cut out any inflamed gums and close any wounds caused by impact.
3) If there is extensive damage to the jawbone, they may need to reconstruct it using bone grafts or plates (metal plates).
Car Accidents Can Leave Victims With Severely Damaged Teeth
The majority of car accidents result in physical injuries, such as broken bones and cuts and scrapes. What many people don't realize is that a major car accident can also inflict serious damage to your teeth and jaw, which may leave you with severely damaged teeth for the rest of your life. But if you ever do find yourself in an auto accident where your teeth are damaged or knocked out, see a dental expert asap!