Dentist
Motor vehicle crashes often come with some scary bumps and bruises or life-threatening injuries, yet dental damages can readily occur, too. What’s more—they’re often overlooked or not addressed promptly. They may be one of the lesser recognized accident or trauma injury types.
Furthermore, dental services can be costly, especially cosmetic ones that repair or replace damaged or lost teeth. Most health insurance plans do not cover dental work, and dental insurance plans often don’t deem the cosmetic ones medically necessary. But, you probably understand that having a functional set of choppers can optimize biting and chewing, and may even affect speech abilities.
When you are the victim of a negligent party in a car accident, you have the right to seek compensation from the party at fault for your dental damages and injuries. However, it may be a good idea to consult with a dentist that has experience in evaluating and documenting injury claims, as meticulous record-keeping may be needed to present as evidence at a personal injury negotiation or court trial.
What Are Accident-Related Dental Injuries?
Dental injuries can be either direct and indirect. Direct injuries result when an object physically hits the mouth/face, or the mouth/face strikes an object. An indirect injury can occur from the force or impact of the accident. For example, teeth can break or sustain other damages when the mouth snaps shut violently and unexpectedly during a rear-end collision.
Types of injuries that are more likely from car accidents include:
- Fractured teeth
- Luxated (or loosened) teeth
- Avulsed (knocked out) teeth
- Root fractures
- Chipped teeth
What Causes Dental Injuries in Auto Accidents?
Numerous hazards can lead to serious dental trauma after a car crash. Drivers are often more likely to suffer dental injuries than passengers, but drivers, passengers, motorcycle riders, cyclists, and pedestrians can all sustain dental injuries from a motor vehicle accident.
Some of the hazards that could contribute to dental trauma include:
- Steering wheel impacts
- Dashboard impacts
- Airbag deployment
- Seats moving or shifting
- Broken or shattered glass
- Cargo moving or shifting
As with other injuries caused by a motor vehicle crash, the victim may not immediately realize that they have a dental injury. Often, there may be other and seemingly more immediate concerns. However, from the standpoint of getting proper medical care and for documenting the dental injury for the insurance company or personal injury claim, it’s essential to have the mouth or jaw problem evaluated by a qualified dentist at immediately.
Why Get Prompt Dental Attention?
Get immediate treatment from a dental professional to save a damaged tooth or start feeling better faster. Report the symptoms and injuries to your dentist and make sure to tell them the date and circumstances of the crash. The dental professional will need to keep detailed records of the damages and repairs, information that can be vital to receiving compensation from insurance companies or personal injury claims against negligent parties.
Whatever the injury situation, it is a good idea to mention the symptoms to the treating doctor at the emergency room or your family doctor. They will likely recommend that you go to a dentist in as soon as possible to have it evaluated and documented. If you’re sustained dental injuries from an auto accident, schedule an evaluation with a dentist in your local area as soon as possible.
Resources:
Wikipedia, Dental Care
