Dislodged Teeth Injuries to the mouth can cause teeth to be pushed back into their sockets. Your general dentist may reposition and stabilize your tooth then refer you to an endodontist. Root canal treatment is usually started within a few weeks of the injury and a medication, such as calcium hydroxide, will be placed inside the tooth. Eventually, a permanent root canal filling will be placed. Sometimes a tooth may be pushed partially out of the socket. Again, your general dentist may reposition and stabilize your tooth. If the pulp remains healthy, then no other treatment is necessary. However, if the pulp becomes damaged or infected, root canal treatment will be required. Avulsed Teeth If an injury causes a tooth to fall out of your mouth, it is important that you are treated immediately! It is important to keep the tooth moist. This way it is more likely to be saved. If possible, place the tooth back into the socket. You can even put the tooth in milk or a glass of water (add a pinch of salt.) We will start root canal treatment based upon the stage of root development. The length of time the tooth was out of your mouth and the way the tooth was stored will influence the long-term prognosis of the tooth. Injuries in children An injured, immature permanent tooth may need one of the following procedures to improve the chances of saving the tooth. Apexogenesis This procedure encourages the root to continue development as the pulp is healed. Soft tissue is covered with medication to encourage growth. The tip of the root (apex) will continue to close as the child gets older. In turn, the walls of the root canal will thicken. If the pulp heals, no additional treatment will be necessary. The more mature the root becomes, the better the chance to save the tooth. Apexification In this case, the unhealthy pulp is removed. Medication is placed into the root to help a hard tissue form near the root tip. The medication, called calcium hydroxide, is replaced every three months until a hard tissue barrier is formed and the root canal can be finished. This procedure can take 1 to 2 years (or more) depending on the age of the child and root development when the initial trauma happened. > back to top patient information - procedures - meet the doctors - our location patient forms - referring doctors - home Web Design by PBHS © 2000