Cosmetic Dentistry: Before and After Slideshow Pictures Take the Dental Health Quiz

Medical Author:

Victor M Almeida, DO

Coauthor:

Joseph J Sachter, MD, FACEP

Medical Editor:

Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM

Medical Editor:

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD

Medical Editor:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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Outlook

• For knocked-out primary (or baby) teeth, there are frequently no long-term problems unless the permanent tooth was damaged. Sometimes the remaining baby teeth drift together and narrow the space for the new adult tooth.

• With adult teeth, the sooner the tooth is reimplanted, the better its chance of survival. Once an adult tooth is lost, it can never be replaced.

• For broken teeth, the more superficial the injury, the better the outcome. Once the nerve or blood supply is compromised, the worse the final result.

• Pushed-in teeth typically erupt on their own, if there is no underlying damage to bone, nerve, blood supply, or the developing adult tooth.