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Traumatic Dental Injuries
Useful information if you or your child has experienced a dental injury.
What is Dental Trauma?
Dental trauma refers to injury or damage to the teeth, gums, or surrounding tissues, often resulting from accidents or impacts to the face.
Common forms of dental trauma include:
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Chipped, fractured, or displaced teeth
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Injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth
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Young children are particularly susceptible to dental injuries due to activities like sports or falls. Prompt assessment and treatment may help reduce complications, manage pain, and support oral health recovery. Endodontists may play a key role in treating trauma involving the tooth’s pulp and root.
If your child has experienced a dental injury, this information will help you understand the treatment journey ahead. Dental injuries in children commonly occur around ages 7–9, when the front teeth have recently erupted, and their roots are still developing. Endodontic care for young teeth may require a tailored approach compared to adult treatment.
Due to unique physiological factors, injured teeth may heal differently from other parts of the body, requiring structured follow-up and management.
Does My Child Need Endodontic Treatment?
Whether endodontic treatment is necessary will depend on various factors, such as:
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Severity of the Injury
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Age of the Child
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Any Pre-existing Conditions
Each injury is unique, and your Endodontist will discuss specific recommendations during the initial consultation.
How Are Young Children Treated for Endodontic Procedures?
Endodontic treatment can be complex and generally requires a cooperative patient. By around age 12, most children are more comfortable with such procedures. However, since many dental injuries occur in younger children, initial treatment usually involves stabilising the injured tooth or teeth. When they’re older, more comprehensive care may be pursued if needed.
Are There Psychological Effects of Dental Treatment?
Dental injuries can have a psychological impact on children. Maintaining a positive outlook can be beneficial—talk about how the Endodontist will help repair their teeth to restore them as they were before the accident. Encouraging them to return to normal activities when they feel ready (e.g., riding a bicycle if the injury occurred while cycling) can also help.
Will My Child Need to See Another Specialist?
Repairs for fractured teeth may require a cosmetic or restorative approach depending on the extent of the injury. In most cases, general dentists perform these repairs, although a Prosthodontist may be involved in more complex cases.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Dental Injuries?
The long-term outlook for injured teeth can vary, even if multiple teeth were affected. If a tooth has a poor long-term prognosis, the goal is often to retain it until your child finishes growing, at which point other restorative options, like dental implants, may be considered.
How Often Will My Child Need Check-ups?
Following dental trauma, young teeth can change rapidly. Most significant changes occur within the first five years, so we follow the International Association of Dental Traumatology’s guidelines, recommending regular reviews at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and then annually for up to 5 years. Each review includes vitality testing and x-rays as needed.
Will We Need a Dento-Legal Report?
Depending on the situation surrounding the injury, a report may be required from your Endodontist. Agencies such as Crimes Compensation, lawyers, and insurance companies typically request dento-legal reports in writing, adhering to privacy legislation. These reports may be used in legal settings, so preparation time is required. Fees apply, reflecting the preparation time and potential court representation.
Can My Child Continue Orthodontic Treatment?
If a child with orthodontic appliances sustains a dental injury, the orthodontist may slow the treatment pace to reduce pressure on the injured teeth. The tooth may be left with a dressing in the root canal during treatment, as root length may change with orthodontic movement. Additionally, orthodontic brackets and wires can sometimes make certain protective measures challenging.
How Can We Help Ease Dental Anxiety?
Anxiety around dental treatment is often influenced by external factors.
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Modern endodontic techniques, including anaesthesia, are designed to improve patient comfort during treatment.
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Using topical anaesthetics before local anaesthetic helps improve comfort.
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Avoiding statements like “It won’t hurt” may reduce anxiety.
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Bringing headphones with music can be a helpful distraction, keeping your child calm and engaged during visits.
This information serves as a general guide. Your Endodontist will discuss the specific aspects of your child’s treatment with you in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding Endodontics
Endodontic treatment, also known as a 'root canal', is a procedure that removes infected or inflamed pulp inside the tooth. The space is cleaned, disinfected, and sealed to prevent further infection, helping to preserve the natural tooth.
Read more about endodontic treatment and how we provide endodontic care here.
In most cases, the alternative to a root canal is tooth extraction.
Read more about what endodontics is here.
Yes, Endodontists may be able to treat cracked, dislodged, or knocked-out teeth resulting from injury. Seeking prompt care improves the chances of saving the tooth.
Read more about our dental trauma and injuries service here.
Your Endodontic Treatment
At Camberwell Endodontics, we aim to provide a professional and communicative experience for patients. From your initial consultation through each step of treatment, our team will guide you with clear information, so you know what to expect.
The number of visits for endodontic treatment varies depending on a number of factors.
Patients travelling from regional areas or interstate should notify the clinic in advance so appointments can be scheduled efficiently. In some cases, treatment can be planned over fewer visits, depending on clinical factors. Contact us here.
As with any procedure, there are potential risks. These vary according to a number of factors such as the disease process and the type of tooth infected.
Success rates vary according to the complexity of case and tooth involved. Endodontic treatment generally has a high success rate but if the Endodontist believes your tooth may be compromised, this will be discussed with you at your consultation visit.
Our team is available to discuss any concerns and provide guidance throughout your treatment.
Learn about the specialised tools and techniques that we use in our endodontic treatments to support your treatment outcomes.
Most patients can safely undergo endodontic treatment. However, those with heart valve conditions or who have had heart valve surgery should inform their clinician before treatment. Patients with prosthetic joint replacements within the past two years may require additional precautions.
Please let us know of any specific medical concerns so we can plan your treatment appropriately.
Pain Management & Aftercare
Modern root canal treatment is performed under local anaesthesia, and most patients find it comparable to having a filling. Treatment helps relieve pain caused by infection or inflammation.
Read more about what to expect after treatment and how to manage post-treatment pain.
It is normal to experience mild discomfort or sensitivity for a few days, which can be managed with over-the-counter pain relief. Avoid chewing hard food on the treated tooth until a permanent restoration is placed.
Visit our managing dental pain page for more information on how to care for the area post treatment.
In many cases, yes. A crown helps to strengthen and improve the appearance of the treated tooth. Your dentist will advise on the best restoration.
While root canal treatment has a high success rate, in some cases, additional treatment such as retreatment or apical surgery may be needed.
If the tooth develops a cracked root, then extraction is often necessary.
Read more about these additional treatments in Our Services section.
Patient Comfort & Safety
Camberwell Endodontics understands that many patients feel nervous about dental procedures. Our team aims to create a calm, supportive environment and takes the time to explain each step of treatment. Some patients like to bring their own music and device with headphones as a distraction during treatment.
We encourage you to discuss any concerns with us beforehand to help ensure a comfortable experience.
A rubber dam is a protective sheet placed around the tooth during treatment to create a clean, isolated field. It helps prevent contamination, enhances infection control, and ensures that water and materials do not enter the mouth. Rubber dam is used for all endodontic treatment and is mandated by dental regulations.
Read more about our use of specialised tools and techniques to support your treatment outcomes.
Fees, Insurance & Booking
Many patients are referred by their general dentist, but while a referral is not necessary, the more information provided will help us triage.
Contact us here to discuss your situation and requirements.
Camberwell Endodontics is committed to transparency in fees and can provide itemised accounts for dental insurance purposes. On-site HICAPS rebate processing is available for added convenience. Our team is happy to answer any questions about treatment costs.
Contact us here.
Private health insurance plans may provide a rebate for endodontic treatment. It is best to check with your insurer to confirm your coverage.
You can schedule an appointment by calling Camberwell Endodontics. We have three locations.
Find out more and contact us here.
ENDODONTIST
Dr. Luke Moloney
With over 30 years of experience in endodontics, Dr. Luke Moloney has extensive experience in the field. As a Consultant Endodontist at the Royal Children’s Hospital and an Honorary Senior Fellow at the Melbourne Dental School, Dr. Moloney has contributed to clinical care and dental education.
ENDODONTIST
Dr. Artika Soma
Dr. Artika Soma is an experienced endodontist with a strong background in clinical care. She is committed to providing patient-focused treatment. Alongside her clinical work, she has been involved in teaching and mentoring future dental professionals, contributing to the development of endodontic education.
ENDODONTIST
Dr. Matthew Filei
With decades of experience in endodontics, Dr. Matthew Filei provides specialist care with a focus on patient well-being. His clinical approach focuses on careful treatment planning in a supportive environment. In addition he shares his expertise through ongoing involvement in dental education.
