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Port Dover Family Dentistry
Dental Trauma Treatment in Boston
A fall, sports hit or farm accident can injure teeth and gums. Boston patients can learn what to do first and how our Port Dover team checks damage.
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Caring for Boston, Ontario patients at our Port Dover office
See every dental service for Boston patientsAfter an injury to the mouth
Quick, calm action after a mouth injury can make a real difference.
Dental trauma covers a wide range of injuries: chipped or broken teeth, teeth pushed out of position, teeth knocked out completely and cuts to the lips, tongue or gums. Injuries can happen during sport, a fall on ice, a workplace or farm mishap, or a vehicle collision. Some damage is obvious, while other injuries only show their effects weeks later.
If someone in Boston has hurt their mouth and there are no signs of a serious head or body injury, call our Port Dover office as soon as you can. Describe what happened and what you can see, and the team will advise how soon to come in and what to do on the way.
First steps
Look after the whole person before focusing on the teeth.
Check for serious injuries first
Before thinking about the teeth, check for signs of a head injury, such as confusion, drowsiness, headache or vomiting, and look for jaw pain that makes it difficult to open or close the mouth. These situations need a hospital emergency department. A dental office cannot manage a concussion or a fractured jaw, so get medical care first when in doubt.
Care for the mouth
Rinse the mouth gently with water, and press clean gauze or cloth on bleeding areas. A cold compress on the outside of the face can reduce swelling. If a tooth is knocked out, pick it up by the crown, not the root, and keep it moist in milk or the person’s saliva. Time matters for a knocked-out adult tooth.
Types of injury
Different injuries call for different responses.
Broken, loosened or displaced teeth
A chipped tooth, a tooth that has been pushed in, out or sideways, a tooth that feels loose and a tooth knocked out entirely each require different treatment. Displaced teeth are often best repositioned quickly. Even a tooth that looks fine after a hard knock may have damage to its nerve or root that only becomes clear later on.
Soft tissue injuries
Cuts to the lips, tongue, cheeks or gums can bleed heavily because the mouth has a rich blood supply. Most bleeding slows with firm pressure applied for several minutes. Deep cuts, especially those through the lip border, may need stitches. If bleeding will not stop, or a wound is large, seek medical attention promptly at a hospital or clinic.
Assessment
A careful examination looks beneath the surface.
Examining teeth and supporting structures
The dentist will examine the injured teeth, gums and bite, and may take x-rays to look for root fractures or damage to the surrounding bone. Teeth may be tested for sensitivity, although an injured nerve can respond unpredictably at first. Bring any broken fragments you found, and explain exactly how and when the injury happened.
Planning treatment
Treatment may include repositioning and splinting loose teeth, bonding chipped pieces, smoothing sharp edges or, in some cases, beginning root canal treatment. For children, the approach differs depending on whether baby or adult teeth are involved. The dentist will explain the plan, what follow-up will be needed and what signs to watch for at home.
Follow-up
Injured teeth often need checking over months, not days.
Watching for delayed changes
A tooth that has been knocked may darken, become sensitive or develop an infection weeks or even months after the injury. Follow-up visits allow the dentist to monitor the nerve and root. Contact the office sooner if you notice swelling, a pimple on the gum, increasing pain or a change in the tooth’s colour over the following weeks.
Preventing future injuries
If the injury happened during sport, ask about a properly fitted mouthguard. For work involving machinery or livestock, consider appropriate face protection. Many dental injuries are accidents that cannot be fully prevented, but protective gear and safe habits can reduce both how often they happen and how serious they are. Ask the team which options suit your activities.
Planning your appointment
Calling from Boston after an injury
Phone our Port Dover office as soon as possible after a dental injury. Describe what happened, which teeth are affected and whether a tooth was knocked out, so the team can advise on urgency and what to bring.
Bring any tooth fragments or a knocked-out tooth stored in milk, and note the time the injury occurred so the dentist knows.
Port Dover Family Dentistry
697 Norfolk County Hwy 6, Unit 2, Port Dover, ON N0A 1N2519-583-2929Directions to our office (opens in a new tab)Office hours & contact detailsBefore you book
Dental injury questions
Have a question about your situation? Our team can help you plan a visit.
Should I go to the hospital or the dentist?
Go to the hospital first if there is a head injury, possible broken jaw, uncontrolled bleeding or trouble breathing or swallowing. For injuries limited to the teeth and gums, call the dental office for advice on how quickly to be seen.
What should I do with a knocked-out tooth?
Hold it by the crown, not the root. If it is an adult tooth and clean, you may try to place it back in the socket gently. Otherwise keep it in milk or saliva and contact a dentist immediately, because time matters.
My tooth looks fine after a fall. Should I still be seen?
It is wise to have it checked. A tooth can appear normal but have damage to its root or nerve that only shows up later. An examination and, if needed, x-rays can identify problems early.
Why has my injured tooth turned grey?
Darkening can mean the nerve has been affected by the injury. It does not always mean the tooth is lost, but it should be assessed. Contact the office so the dentist can examine it and discuss whether treatment is needed.
Are baby tooth injuries treated differently?
Yes. Knocked-out baby teeth are usually not replanted, since that can harm the developing adult tooth beneath. Children with mouth injuries should still be assessed so the dentist can check the area and plan follow-up.
Urgent injury care
Dental Emergencies →Knocked-Out Tooth Treatment →
A knocked-out adult tooth needs fast, careful handling. Boston patients can learn how to hold it, store it and reach our Port Dover office quickly.
Broken or Chipped Tooth Repair →
Chipped a tooth near Boston, Ontario? Learn what to do first, what to save and how our Port Dover team assesses damage before suggesting a repair.