First aid for jaw or teeth injury

Tooth trauma

Physical damage to a tooth is divided into cracks, bruises, dislocations with displacement (partial or complete) of the tooth around its axis or to the side, fractures (of the crown or root), and these injuries can also be combined. Basically, such injuries occur due to a strong blow to the jaw, but sometimes too hard food (nuts, bones, caramel, etc.) can damage the integrity of the tooth.

Signs of a tooth injury:

• a feeling of acute pain in the area of the damaged tooth;
• the position and/or size of the tooth has changed and this is noticeable to the "naked" eye;
• in the area of the damaged tooth, as well as surrounding tissues, the gums have become red or swollen;
• bleeding has begun (in case of severe injury);
• the tooth has become loose.

Of course, a microcrack in the root of the tooth may not manifest itself in this way, but over time, pathogenic bacteria will penetrate into the tooth through the resulting gap, which will subsequently lead to pulpitis (inflammation of the nerve endings of the tooth).

First aid for tooth damage

A dentist provides dental trauma treatment services in accordance with each specific case. In case of dislocation, tooth splinting can be performed, when a loose tooth is fixed to adjacent healthy teeth by applying a medical rubber splint; in case of a root fracture, a tooth is partially or completely removed; in case of breaks in the crown of the tooth, restoration or microprosthetics is performed.

Jaw fracture

A jaw fracture is a serious injury to the jaw apparatus, which can lead to serious consequences. These include: concussion, disruption of chewing and swallowing functions, meningitis, etc.

A jaw fracture can look different: with or without a violation of the integrity of the cheek or other nearby tissues (respectively, an open or closed fracture); with or without displacement (respectively, a complete or incomplete fracture).

Signs of a jaw fracture:

• bleeding from the wound (with an open fracture);
• sharp unbearable pain, especially when moving the jaws;
• general malaise, nausea, fainting;
• unusual jaw mobility;
• hematomas on the face;
• impaired respiratory, swallowing and speech functions;
• retraction of the tongue (with a fracture of the lower jaw).

First aid for a jaw fracture

Only a qualified maxillofacial surgeon has the right to treat a jaw fracture. exclusively in a dental clinic or hospital.

However, immediately after a jaw fracture, the victim must be given first aid, which includes: fixing the broken jaw in a motionless position, removing foreign bodies from the mouth (if any), fixing the tongue (if breathing and swallowing are difficult), stopping bleeding by applying a tourniquet, applying a cold compress (for example, an ice pack), ensuring complete rest for the patient, calling an ambulance for transportation to the clinic.

Jaw contusion

A jaw contusion most often occurs due to a blow from various objects, the nature of the injury depends on the force of the blow and the hardness of which.

The consequences of a contusion include constant headaches, deformation of the jaw or a change in the position of the teeth, inflammatory processes in the bone tissue, as well as tooth loss (at the time of a strong blow). In children, a severe jaw contusion can provoke the formation of a brain tumor.

Signs of a jaw contusion:

• sharp pain, increasing with mechanical impact on the jaw in the contused area;
• swelling, hematoma formation and redness of the facial tissues (occurs due to damage to blood vessels at the time of impact);
• inflammation of the lymph nodes;
• pain when chewing food, clicking of the jaw when it opens;
• high body temperature, headaches, general weakness.

First aid for a jaw contusion

In case of a jaw contusion, the victim should apply a cold (not warming!) compress to the damaged place, apply a tight bandage and ensure complete rest until the ambulance arrives.

How to prevent jaw and tooth injuries

Unfortunately, no one is 100% insured against mechanical damage to a tooth or jaw injury, but precautions will still increase the likelihood of avoiding these troubles. The most basic and common conditions are oral hygiene, preventive dental examinations, timely treatment and use "as intended". If possible, avoid eating too hard foods. When boxing or other traumatic sports, be sure to use special mouth guards, a helmet and other personal protective equipment.