When you think about Cincinnati, Ohio, auto accident injuries, you probably think about head injuries, neck injuries, broken bones, scarring, and internal injuries. These are all very serious injuries that require immediate attention and can significantly impact your life. Yet, many people don’t consider the likelihood or severity of dental injuries in a Cincinnati, Ohio, auto accident. Part of the reason for this is that an auto accident that causes dental injuries is likely to have caused many other serious injuries that take priority over damage to the victim’s teeth. When someone is getting surgery for internal injuries, stitches on facial lacerations, and other necessary medical treatments, they may not even think about their dental injuries until all other issues are addressed. It is possible to get into an auto accident and have no injuries beyond damage to your teeth, but most auto accidents that involve dental injuries also involve other, more serious, and more devastating damage.
The Impact of Dental Injuries from a Cincinnati, Ohio, Auto Accident
When you suffer from dental injuries in a Cincinnati, Ohio, auto accident, this can have a significant impact on your
life. It may have practical consequences, such as not being able to eat, not being able to speak clearly, and of course, experiencing significant dental pain. Yet, it can also have aesthetic and emotional consequences. It could impact your self esteem and confidence. You may be uncomfortable smiling, speaking, or spending time with others because of embarrassment. In some cases, it may even impact your career. If your job involves meeting with clients, talking to customers, or standing in front of a crowd, then your dental injuries could make your job a lot harder if not impossible to do.
Making Time to See a Dentist After a Cincinnati, Ohio Auto Accident
When you’re recovering from serious injuries after a Cincinnati, Ohio, auto accident, you may not think about how you’re going to make time to see a dentist for dental injuries. You may be confined to a hospital bed while certain injuries heal. You may need medical devices that will make it difficult or impossible to sit in a dentist’s chair. You may be so focused on other injuries and damage that you simply don’t make time to visit the dentist. When you do get around to visiting a dentist, you may find that the amount of work you need is tremendous and overwhelming. You may wonder how you’re going to afford the expense and whether you can get his damage covered in an auto accident claim. Yet, many people don’t even focus on getting that coverage because they don’t make time to see a dentist or they are unable to see a dentist due to other injuries. It is important to consider your dental injuries when you seek compensation in a Cincinnati, Ohio, auto accident claim, because dental care can be very expenses, and you don’t want to have to face that expense alone.
Different Types of Dental Injuries that Can Happen in a Cincinnati, Ohio, Auto Accident
If you have been injured in a Cincinnati, Ohio, auto accident, you may suffer from direct dental injuries or indirect dental injuries. If your teeth are damaged because your mouth struck an object or was struck by an object (such as the steering wheel, dashboard, or other object), then this is a direct injury. If your mouth is open at the time of the accident and it slams shut, causing injury, then this is an indirect dental injury. In either case, the pain and damage can be very severe and difficult to cope with. The speed of the vehicles, the intensity of the impact, and the number of teeth damaged will affect how severe your pain is and how much dental treatment you require to correct it. The three most common types of dental injuries from Cincinnati, Ohio, auto accidents that can be direct or indirect include an avulsed tooth, tooth luxation, and fractured teeth.
Avulsed Tooth Injuries Can Be Caused by Cincinnati, Ohio, Auto Accidents
An avulsed tooth is a tooth that has been knocked right out of its socket by the impact of your Cincinnati, Ohio, auto accident. This is most commonly a direct dental injury in which your mouth strikes an object or is struck by an object. However, if the impact of the collision is severe enough, it could also happen indirectly with your mouth slamming shut hard enough to knock a tooth out. It is possible to put the tooth back where it goes if you treat it right and get treatment within two hours. To treat the tooth right, don’t pick it up by the roots. Pick it up by the crown and put it in a clean container with a saline (salt water) solution or in a clean container with whole milk. If you get to the dentist within two hours, then they may be able to put it back. Unfortunately, auto accident victims are rarely able to get to the dentist within two hours. There are other injuries to address and the tooth may not even be located right away in the mess of the accident. You may be able to replace the tooth with an implant.
Tooth Luxation Injuries Can Be Caused by Cincinnati, Ohio, Auto Accidents
A tooth luxation is a dental injury where the tooth is not knocked out but is significantly loosened. You may be able to push the tooth back into its appropriate position yourself, then leave it alone to heal. Yet, you should also see a dentist as quickly as possible to ensure that no other damage has occurred. These are the least serious of dental injuries and are often not so difficult to recover from, though they can still be quite painful. If not handled correctly, the tooth could be eventually lost.
Fractured Tooth Injuries Can Be Caused by Cincinnati, Ohio, Auto Accidents
Fractured tooth injuries are considered to be acute dental trauma. The damaged teeth can often be fixed, but the severity of the injury determines how difficult it will be to treat. Fractured teeth can are categorized as Ellis I, Ellis II, or Ellis III, depending on severity.
- Ellis I – An Ellis I dental fracture refers to any fracture to the crown that does not go through the enamel. The tooth may be rough at the edges, but will not be tender or change color.
- Ellis II – An Ellis II dental fracture refers to any fracture of the tooth that goes through the enamel to the dentin layer of your tooth. Such injuries are tender and sensitive to air. You may also notice that the tooth becomes more yellow in color.
- Ellis III – An Ellis III dental fracture refers to any fracture of the tooth that goes all the way through the enamel, the dentin, and the pulp layer of your tooth. These injuries are sensitive and involve red and pink discoloration. There may be blood at the center of the damaged tooth.
If you have suffered from dental injuries in a Cincinnati, Ohio, auto accident, call the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation to learn about your options for recovering compensation.