Injuries we treat
Sports, falls, bikes, car accidents, an unlucky elbow — dental trauma rarely schedules itself politely. Endodontists are the specialists trained to save injured teeth, because nearly every serious dental injury ultimately comes down to one question: can the pulp inside the tooth survive?
- Knocked-out (avulsed) teeth — replanted and stabilized with a splint; root canal treatment usually follows within two weeks to protect the healing root.
- Displaced (luxated) teeth — pushed sideways, inward, or partially out of the socket. We reposition, stabilize, and monitor the nerve.
- Chipped and fractured teeth — from cosmetic chips to fractures exposing the pulp. Deep fractures may need root canal therapy before your dentist restores the tooth.
- Root fractures — a break below the gumline, located precisely with 3D imaging; treatment depends on where along the root it sits.
What happens at the emergency visit
We see trauma cases the same day whenever humanly possible. The visit is focused and efficient: we control any bleeding, numb the area, and image the injury — including cone beam 3D imaging when a root or bone fracture is suspected. Displaced teeth are repositioned and splinted to their neighbors with a flexible retainer that stays in place for a couple of weeks while the ligament heals.
Then we plan. Some injured teeth need root canal treatment right away; many just need monitoring, with follow-up visits to confirm the nerve is recovering. We coordinate every step with your general dentist, who handles the final cosmetic restoration once the tooth is stable.
The follow-up matters as much as the emergency
A tooth that survives the accident can still fail quietly months or years later, as an injured nerve gradually loses vitality. That's why every trauma case gets a monitoring schedule — brief checks at intervals over the following year to test the nerve and compare imaging. Caught early, a failing nerve is a routine root canal; caught late, it can mean infection, discoloration, and a harder save.
This is also why a tooth that "took a hit but seems fine" deserves a baseline exam. Ten minutes of testing now can save the tooth later.
Quick answers
How fast do I really need to act?
For a knocked-out permanent tooth: within 30–60 minutes gives the best odds of reattachment. Every minute the root spends dry works against you — milk or saliva buys time.
ER or endodontist?
ER first for any head injury, loss of consciousness, uncontrolled bleeding, or suspected jaw fracture. For the tooth itself, we can do far more than an emergency room — many ERs will simply refer you to us.
The tooth was hit but looks fine. Exam anyway?
Yes. Nerve damage from a blow often shows no visible sign and can surface months later. A baseline exam plus scheduled follow-ups catches it while treatment is still simple.
What about a child's baby tooth?
Baby teeth are handled differently — they're not replanted, to protect the permanent tooth developing underneath. Call us and we'll tell you exactly what to do.