Tooth trauma -how long before I know the score?
Discussion
Hi all, after a bit of advice as my dentist has left me a little uninformed. Mostly my fault due to a mild phobia!
On Valentine's day I had a bit of a bike smash. Broke my nose, 11 stitches for a through and through injury of my lip, possible harline fracture and a big knock to my top front teeth.
One had dropped down and twisted through 90 degrees, but not come out. This was put back in as best they could by the maxillio-facial peeps at A&E, and splinted to 2 adjacent teeth. My front teeth are large and overcrowded so they had difficulty getting it in the right place.
I was given 5 days of amoxycillin.
Saw the dentist the next day and they said come back in a week after some of the swelling had subsided.
I did this, he examined, and said it was still very swollen but was reasonably optimistic about saving it.
Unfortunately, an infection then flagged up in my tooth (and spread to the lip) so I was given another week of amoxycillin as the last course had finished. 5 days later it was still there so the doctor gave me another 7 days of a different antibiotic.
Anyways, the result is that even though the infection now seems to be gone, the tooth is still very sensitive. I have been told it will need a root canal which it is booked in for, but two adjacent teeth now seem to clash with my lower jaw sometimes.I guess they're slightly out of alignment.
I guess what I'm trying to find out is a) how long before the pain should subside, and I know if it's salvageable or not.
And b) is it likely that the surrounding try can be pulled back into position with a brace or similar afterwards?
I'm not mounted, I can't afford expensive private dentistry, do this is all NHS funded.
Any advice much appreciated.
On Valentine's day I had a bit of a bike smash. Broke my nose, 11 stitches for a through and through injury of my lip, possible harline fracture and a big knock to my top front teeth.
One had dropped down and twisted through 90 degrees, but not come out. This was put back in as best they could by the maxillio-facial peeps at A&E, and splinted to 2 adjacent teeth. My front teeth are large and overcrowded so they had difficulty getting it in the right place.
I was given 5 days of amoxycillin.
Saw the dentist the next day and they said come back in a week after some of the swelling had subsided.
I did this, he examined, and said it was still very swollen but was reasonably optimistic about saving it.
Unfortunately, an infection then flagged up in my tooth (and spread to the lip) so I was given another week of amoxycillin as the last course had finished. 5 days later it was still there so the doctor gave me another 7 days of a different antibiotic.
Anyways, the result is that even though the infection now seems to be gone, the tooth is still very sensitive. I have been told it will need a root canal which it is booked in for, but two adjacent teeth now seem to clash with my lower jaw sometimes.I guess they're slightly out of alignment.
I guess what I'm trying to find out is a) how long before the pain should subside, and I know if it's salvageable or not.
And b) is it likely that the surrounding try can be pulled back into position with a brace or similar afterwards?
I'm not mounted, I can't afford expensive private dentistry, do this is all NHS funded.
Any advice much appreciated.
The nerves and blood vessels in a tooth enter through a small hole at the tip of the root. When a tooth is knocked and moved out of position, the nerves and vessels can be severed at the tip of the root. The tissue inside the tooth then dies due to a lack of blood supply.
The symptoms you are getting are likely the result of the pulp going through the process of dying.
The dentist will drill a small hole in the back of the tooth to access the dying tissues and remove them. Once this is done the tooth will generally stop hurting within hours. It will then need root canal therapy.
If your bite on other teeth has changed, then it is likely that they have also been moved. It is difficult to predict, but these may also need treatment as above. This may become apparent months or even years in the future. In the meantime, they may need smoothing down to make your bite more even.
NHS charges for this treatment is band 2 ( about £52)
Check all your insurance policies to see if you have personal injury cover.
I assume you've had xrays taken at your dentist to look for fractures?
The symptoms you are getting are likely the result of the pulp going through the process of dying.
The dentist will drill a small hole in the back of the tooth to access the dying tissues and remove them. Once this is done the tooth will generally stop hurting within hours. It will then need root canal therapy.
If your bite on other teeth has changed, then it is likely that they have also been moved. It is difficult to predict, but these may also need treatment as above. This may become apparent months or even years in the future. In the meantime, they may need smoothing down to make your bite more even.
NHS charges for this treatment is band 2 ( about £52)
Check all your insurance policies to see if you have personal injury cover.
I assume you've had xrays taken at your dentist to look for fractures?
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