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 symptoms are related to a dental injury?

An injury to your mouth may cause:

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

If you have heavy bleeding in your mouth, seek urgent medical care as 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 occupations also put you at more risk of a dental injury.

How is a dental injury diagnosed?

Your doctor or dentist will examine your teeth and may take an x-ray. They will ask you about your dental history and if you have any pain.

When should I see my dentist?

If you have a painful tooth, make an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible.

If a tooth is cracked, chipped or loose 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
• an adult tooth has fallen out

If you have lost an adult tooth and managed 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 the tooth up to 2 hours after the injury.

Dental injury first aid

Lost or displaced teeth

If an adult tooth has come out, try to find it. Handle the tooth very carefully and hold it by the crown (top of the 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.

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

Don’t let the tooth dry out. You can use a piece of foil folded to the sides of your tooth to help hold the tooth 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 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 go to the dentist, 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 your child’s mouth with salt water. Apply an ice pack if their mouth is swollen and go to your dentist.

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.

Swelling and Pain

If you have swelling, try using a cold compress against the side of your face. This can help relieve pain and reduce the swelling. Wrap an ice pack in a cloth before placing it against your skin. Go to your dentist to get it assessed.

How is a dental injury treated?

Treatment will depend on the type of injury. If a baby tooth is knocked out, it won’t be reimplanted.

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 until your mouth heals. They may do this by using a splint or bonding it to the next tooth.

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

Apply pressure with a clean towel or dressing to help stop any bleeding.

If a tooth has come out, store it in a little milk or sterile saline and go straight to the dentist or hospital.

Eat soft foods while you recover from a dental injury.

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

Medicines for dental injury

Take simple pain-relief medicines such as paracetamol if needed. Avoid high doses of aspirin as this could increase any bleeding.

Most dental injuries do not require antibiotics.

Can a dental injury be prevented?

Some activities are more likely than others 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 such as:

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

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.

If you develop any of the following symptoms, you should contact your doctor:

• swollen lymph nodes (glands) in the neck
• a fever (a temperature over 38⁰C)

Dental injuries can make it harder for you to chew and swallow. This can affect your nutrition and general health.

It’s important to see your dentist after a dental injury. With the right treatment you can avoid long-term problems that impact your overall health.

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.