Dental trauma refers to trauma (injury) to the teeth and/or periodontium (gums, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone), and nearby soft tissues such as the lips, tongue, cheeks etc.

A knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency that requires urgent attention. If the appropriate emergency steps are followed immediately after the tooth has been knocked out, the chances are very good that the tooth can be reinserted and preserved by a dentist.

Pick up the tooth by the top (crown) of the tooth. Do not touch the root(s) of the tooth. Rinse the tooth off very gently to ensure that it’s clean. Do not scrub the tooth or remove any tissue attached to it. Put the tooth in a small container with water or milk. Note that the latter is preferable. Call your dentist immediately, since getting to the dentist quickly with your tooth – in addition to following the steps above – is critical for saving the knocked-out tooth. The longer you wait to re-implant the tooth in its socket, the less chance you have of the tooth “taking” and remaining viable.

If you have a tooth that is loose or out of alignment, you should call your dentist for an emergency appointment right away. Do not try to move the tooth or force it in its position You can bite down gently to keep the tooth from moving. Your dentist may want to splint the tooth to the adjacent teeth (the teeth on each side) to keep it stabilized.

Cracked or Fractured tooth is a serious issue constituting a dental emergency. Fractured or Cracked teeth usually suggest that damage has occurred to the inside of the tooth as well as to the outside. Fractured tooth can be saved by fillings, Root canal treatments , crowns if treated at the earliest .Some fractures are so extreme that the tooth cannot be saved.

Any type of injury inside the mouth, such as puncture wounds, lacerations and tears to the lips, cheeks, mouth and tongue, are considered tissue injuries and a dental emergency.

Basically, any dental problem that requires immediate treatment in order to save a tooth, stop ongoing tissue bleeding or alleviate severe pain is considered a dental emergency. A severe infection or abscess in the mouth can be life-threatening and should be dealt with immediately.