What is a dental injury?

Dental injuries are common. A dental injury is an injury to your mouth, which can cause:

• lost teeth
• loose or displaced teeth (teeth have moved from their usual position)
• chipped or broken teeth
• damaged gums
• damage to the inside of your mouth

What are the symptoms of a dental injury?

An injury to your mouth may cause:

• bleeding from your mouth, lips or gums
• swelling of your lips or gums
• cracked or broken teeth
• a toothache
• difficulty opening or closing your mouth

If you have heavy bleeding in your mouth, seek urgent medical care. This is because there is a chance your airway could get blocked.

You might not be able to see all the damage to your teeth or mouth. This is why you should see a dentist after a mouth injury.

​What causes dental injuries?

The most common causes of dental trauma (injury) include:

• falling over
• being hit in the face
• having an accident while playing sport
• eating something hard
• fractured jaw
• traffic accidents

Some jobs also increase your chance of getting a dental injury.

​When should I see my dentist?

If you have a painful tooth or jaw, see a dentist as soon as possible.

If a tooth is cracked, chipped, loose or lost after an accident, it's important to see a dentist. Treatment can help to avoid long-term damage.

​​​​​​​When to seek urgent care

You should call an ambulance on triple zero (000) or go straight to the emergency department if:

• you are having trouble breathing
• you are having trouble talking or swallowing
• there is a lot of blood going down your throat
• your mouth or tongue are very swollen

​​​​​​​Lost or displaced teeth

If you have lost an adult tooth, try to find it. There's a good chance it can be saved. Aim to get to a hospital or dentist within 30 minutes. It may still be possible to save your tooth up to 2 hours after the injury.

Handle your tooth very carefully and hold it by the crown. This is the white part of your tooth that you see in your mouth. Don't touch the root as you could damage the cells in the soft tissue attached to the root. These are needed for healing.

If your tooth is dirty, quickly rinse it in warm water. Don't scrub the tooth or soak it in the water. Try and place the tooth back in your gum and gently bite down on a clean piece of cloth.

If your tooth is wobbling, you can use a small piece of aluminium foil over it to keep it in place, while you travel to the dentist.

If you can't put the tooth back in, store it in a little milk or saliva so that it doesn't dry out, until you can get help.

Call a dentist urgently and ask for an emergency appointment — ideally within 30 minutes — or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

The sooner you get treatment, the better chance there is to save your tooth.

If one of your child's first teeth (a 'baby tooth') is lost, don't try to put it back in. Rinse their mouth with salt water. If their mouth is swollen, apply an ice pack and go to your dentist. Your child's gum will heal over time and an adult tooth should grow in its place.

​​​​​​​Broken teeth

If part of your tooth has broken off, this should be placed in milk or a sterile saline (salt) solution and taken to your dentist.

​​​​​​​How is a dental injury diagnosed?

Your doctor or dentist will examine your teeth. They may:

• ask about any pain you are feeling
• ask about your dental history
• take an x-ray

​How is a dental injury treated?

Treatment for your dental injury will depend on the type of injury.

If a baby tooth is knocked out, it won't be put back into your mouth.

When an adult tooth is reimplanted, there is a high chance it will need root canal therapy in the future.

If the tooth has broken and the pulp of a tooth (the inside of the tooth) has been injured, you may need root canal therapy.

If your tooth is loose or displaced (has moved), your dentist will need to stabilise it. They may do this by using a splint or bonding it to the next tooth. This may last until your mouth heals.

If your tooth is cracked or broken, you may need to have a crown fitted.

If a damaged tooth can't be saved, your dentist will discuss the options with you. Some very severe dental injuries, such as a fractured jaw, may need surgery.

​​​​​​​Self-care at home

If you have a dental injury, apply pressure with a clean towel or dressing to help stop the bleeding.

If a tooth or a piece of a tooth has come out, store it in some milk or sterile saline. Go straight to the dentist or hospital.

If you have swelling, try using a cold compress against the side of your face. This can help relieve pain and reduce the swelling. You can do this by wrapping an ice pack in a cloth before placing it against your skin.

Eat soft foods while you recover from a dental injury.

It's best to see a dentist if you have any dental injury. They can give you the best advice and treatment.

​​​​​​​Medicines for dental injury

Take simple pain-relief medicines such as paracetamol if needed. Avoid taking high doses of aspirin as this could increase bleeding. Do not give aspirin to your child if they are under 12 years old, unless your doctor tells you to.

Most dental injuries do not require antibiotics.

​What are the complications of a dental injury?

After a dental injury, there is a risk of infection. You can avoid this by keeping your mouth clean. Always follow your dentist's advice on mouth care.

You should contact your dentist or doctor if you develop symptoms like:

• swollen lymph nodes (glands) in the neck
• a fever (a temperature over 38⁰C)
• pus coming from your injury
• a bad taste in your mouth
• nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting

Dental injuries can make chewing and swallowing harder for you. This can affect your nutrition and general health.

With the right treatment you can avoid long-term problems that impact your health and well being.

​Can a dental injury be prevented?

Some activities are more likely to lead to accidents that cause dental injury. It's best to wear a fitted mouthguard (one that's custom-made by your dentist) to protect your teeth when doing activities like:

• off-road bike riding
• skateboarding
• rock climbing
• white-water rafting
• trampolining
• boxing

You should also wear a mouthguard while playing:

• football
• basketball
• squash
• hockey

Mouthguards that show signs of wear or damage need to be replaced. Ask your dentist for advice about preventing dental injuries.

​Resources and support

If you have a dental problem after-hours, you can call the Australian Dental Foundation's Emergency Dental Hotline on 0407 111 117.

Find out more about looking after your teeth on the Australian Dental Association's website.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.