Lakewood Attorneys for Dental Injuries from Car Accidents
The force of a traumatic car accident can send your head on a collision course with your airbag, steering wheel, or windshield. Not only can this sudden jolt cause whiplash, concussion, and back injuries, but it can also cause significant dental injuries.
Dental injuries can be exceedingly painful and even demoralizing. Living with broken teeth, even temporarily, can be embarrassing and cause emotional distress. Not to mention that repairing the damage can be expensive and time-consuming.
If a careless driver’s behavior resulted in your dental injuries, you need to consult with a knowledgeable Lakewood car accident attorney. At The Law Offices of Briggs & Briggs, we believe careless drivers must be held accountable for their actions. We are committed to helping you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries. To schedule a free consultation, call our office today at (253) 588-6696.
Common Dental Injuries Following a Car Accident
There are generally two types of injuries that can harm a person’s teeth in a car accident. These injuries are direct dental injuries and indirect dental injuries. Direct dental injuries occur when an object physically hits the head or face. If your mouth hits the steering wheel or your head collides with the side window, the impact can cause direct injuries to your teeth and jaw.
Indirect dental injuries are diffident. These injuries tend to occur when the mouth abruptly closes. The movement forces the teeth in the lower jaw to be crushed by the teeth in the upper jaw. Both direct and indirect dental injuries can cause a wide range of damage to the teeth, mouth, tongue, and jaw. Common dental injuries associated with car accidents can include:
- Fractured teeth – There are several different classifications of tooth fractures. The type of tooth fracture you have depends on what portion of the tooth is broken or chipped. Tooth fractures can impact the crown, root, enamel, dentin, and pulp. The five categories of tooth fracture include a cracked tooth, craze lines, fractured cusp, split tooth, and vertical root fracture. A dentist can specify which fracture you have and offer treatment options.
- Avulsed teeth – An avulsed tooth is a tooth that becomes completely dislodged from its socket. If you find a tooth knocked loose from your mouth, always pick it up by the crown, never by the root. Place the tooth in a glass of milk or saline and seek dental treatment immediately.
- Luxated teeth – A luxated tooth is a tooth that is loose but has not completely fallen out. Generally, you will feel the tooth wiggling from side to side in your mouth. Try to keep the tooth in its original position and get help from a dental professional as soon as possible.
- Jaw pain/broken jaw – A violent blow to the face or head can cause significant jaw pain and bone fractures. Damage to the jaw can cause serious dental problems down the road.
- Tongue and soft palate injuries – The sudden impact of a car accident can also cause other mouth injuries, such as damage to the tongue, inner cheeks, and soft palate of the mouth. A crash can cause a person to bite their tongue or cheek to the point of causing tremendous tissue damage or biting a portion of the soft tissue off completely.
Symptoms of Dental Injuries
Not all dental injuries cause significant pain and discomfort immediately after a crash. If you’ve been involved in a car accident, be aware of these common symptoms of potential dental injuries:
- Tooth pain
- Jaw pain
- Sensitivity
- Swelling
- Bleeding gums
- Teeth that feel loose or that wiggle
Seeking medical treatment after a car accident is vital. Many people choose to visit an emergency room or their primary care physician yet fail to schedule an appointment with their dentist. Dental injuries can be subtle but cause long-term damage and health complications. Take care of your teeth and make an appointment with a dental professional as soon as possible.
Complications from Dental Injuries
You may not realize it, but dental injuries can have a profound impact on your overall health, especially when left untreated. Tooth injuries can quickly abscess. An abscess is a pocket that fills with pus caused by a bacterial infection. When an abscess is left untreated, the infection can spread to the jaw, sinuses, and other parts of the body. In some cases, an abscess does have the potential to turn into a life-threatening infection called sepsis.
Dental injuries can also lead to eventual tooth loss and other health complications. Studies indicate that tooth loss can affect a person’s overall health and quality of life. Without your teeth, you may not be able to eat the wide variety of food like fruits and vegetables your body needs to remain healthy. Slowly your overall health can decline, your immune system may weaken, and you may be more likely to develop significant health conditions.
Another little-talked-about complication from dental injuries involves a person’s mental health. When a person suffers tooth loss or chipped teeth, they may experience a drop in self-confidence. Being self-conscious about your smile can lead to withdrawal from friends, family, and once enjoyable activities. It can also lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney for Help with Your Claim
Dental injuries tend to be the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Chances are, if you’ve suffered serious dental injuries after a car accident, you may also have a wide range of other significant injuries like head, neck, or spinal injuries. To gain the compensation you deserve, you need a seasoned Lakewood personal injury attorney on your side fighting for you.
At The Law Offices of Briggs & Briggs, our experienced legal team has been helping car accident victims recover meaningful compensation for decades. We know what it takes to build a compelling case that stands the best chance of earning you the money you need. If a car accident has left you with significant dental injuries, call our office at (253) 588-6696 to set up a free case review.
