Get Teeth Out Of The Fracture Zone To Reduce Risk Of Tooth Loss, Damage

By Pedro Alquizar Thursday July 12, 2012

MIAMI, FLORIDA-Whether it is a sports-related dental injury, a bike wreck or an incident at summer camp, accidents often damage, break or knock out front teeth.

“Certain malocclusions like prominent or protruding front teeth are more prone to tooth damage, which means children with protruding teeth are good candidates for early treatment,” says Dr. Pedro Alquizar, a Miami orthodontist.

Correcting the malocclusion, which literally means bad bite, and moving teeth out of the dangerous “fracture zone” helps reduce the risk of injury. It also has many other benefits. Getting early treatment can fix certain orthodontic issues faster than if the patient waited until they were an older teen or adult, especially if the malocclusion is related to jaw growth. The orthodontist can guide jaw growth while it is still developing and potentially prevent problems related to jaw misalignment like headaches, chewing problems and speech development, says Miami braces provider, Dr. Alquizar.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends having children see an orthodontist for an evaluation no later than age 7, and urges parents not to put it off by assuming that children will grow out of it.

“Extremely crowded teeth can cause the supporting bone and gums to thin and recede, sometimes even impacting permanent teeth,” says Dr. Phillip Kaner, a Kendall orthodontist.

What To Do In Case Of Emergency
If you find yourself in a situation where a tooth has been damaged or knocked out, it helps to know exactly what to do because quick reactions can save the tooth roots and allow the tooth to be re-implanted.

Find the avulsed tooth or teeth-the teeth that were broken or knocked out- even if they are in pieces. Hold the tooth by the crown and avoid touching the roots, which are essential for successful re-implantation.
Put the tooth straight back into place in the mouth.
If you cannot put the tooth back in, place it in a glass of milk, not water, or use a tooth preservation product like Save-A-Tooth.
Call your dentist right away even if you can’t find the tooth, or head to the closest hospital. The faster you act, the better.

“The risk of dental injuries can be reduced greatly by following a few simple suggestions and getting braces for teeth that are protruding,” says Dr. Kaner, a Palmetto Bay Invisalign expert.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that all children wear protective gear, including a mouthguard, during athletic activities to protect a child’s teeth, lips, cheeks and gums from sports-related injuries. They also say using a car seat for younger children and requiring seat belts for everyone else in the car prevents many common dental injuries.

© 2012 Master Google and Dr. Pedro Alquizar and Dr. Phillip Kaner. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Dr. Pedro Alquizar and Dr. Phillip Kaner and Master Google are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this press release is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.