A guide to soft tissue trauma
Soft tissue trauma is a common ailment among many people that often accompanies injuries to the face or mouth and can require urgent medical attention, yet some people remain unaware that this can be treated by an emergency dentist.
Receiving a check-up from a professional practitioner can ensure patients are given the appropriate care to allow their injuries to heal as quickly as possible before visiting the hospital.
Soft tissue traumas dealt with by most dentists can include puncture wounds and cuts on the tongue, lips and teeth, which are extremely sensitive areas. In many cases, when individuals fall over and hit their face they can bite their tongue at the same time.
When the soft tissue of the mouth experiences trauma, it is extremely common for the affected area to bleed heavily due to its strong blood supply. If this does occur, it is extremely important for individuals to stay calm and take the right course of action, while remembering the injury is often not as bad as it looks.
Additionally, areas of the mouth are filled with a high number of nerve endings and blood vessels, which can result in oral injuries feeling more serious than they actually are. However, it remains important for members of the public who sustain this type of injury to seek medical advice in order to prevent the issue from getting worse.
If a patient becomes disorientated as a result of the bleeding, it can become difficult to determine the extent of the injury. Therefore, professional treatment should be sought as soon as possible. This is also the case for injuries to the face, mouth and jaw, which can often include damage to the teeth that is often not visible.
An emergency dentist is able to identify any hidden issues, provide appropriate solutions and create peace of mind among individuals.
How can the blood flow be stemmed?
When patients sustain an injury that results in soft tissue trauma, the main challenge is often stemming the bleeding. Initially it is recommended that patients rinse their mouth with warm water to remove any excess blood away from the wound. Following this, a cotton wool pad can be used to apply pressure to the affected area.
If this material is held in place for approximately ten minutes, many patients will see the situation improving, while many individuals will find further relief if they apply an ice pack to the wound for a few minutes.
When injuries to the mouth occur, they are often hard to reach without treatment from a professional emergency dentist. For this reason, it is vital to seek immediate help to ensure the ailment does not remain in a serious condition for a lengthy period of time.
Emergency dentists are well trained in this area and are used to working within tight spaces to clean and treat serious wounds.
A serious burn that has been sustained due to consumption of hot food or drink can be extremely painful and require immediate attention from an emergency dentist.
An expert opinion will be able to evaluate the extent of the burns and determine the appropriate course of action to take, with the after effects of the injury often proving more serious than the wound itself.
Blisters often form inside the mouth due the sensitivity of the area, while this issue can worsen due to irritation caused by eating and drinking carried out at the same time as the problem is attempting to heal.
Patients will more often than not be asked to return for regular appointments to allow an emergency dentist to monitor the progress of the affected area and determine the earliest signs of infection. In some cases, individuals will be referred to their GP for ongoing treatment.
What else can an emergency dentist do?
Attending an appointment with an emergency dentist is important after sustaining soft tissue trauma and should be carried out as soon as possible. Many accident & emergency departments will have oral surgeons on duty who are able to examine the more serious cases of oral injury.
However, regular dentists are also able to provide adequate treatment for the majority of oral issues, with many consultations beginning with a series of X-rays to determine the extent of the problem. Underlying issues could include concussion, jaw and head injuries, which could cause complications and require more treatment if they go undetected.
An emergency dentist will clean the wound and stitch the cut if required, using dissolvable materials to alleviate the requirement for a follow-up appointment when the wound has healed. In some cases, a patient will be asked to attend further meetings with a qualified practitioner, who will monitor the recovery process and check the health of teeth.
Some individuals may be referred to a different specialist for further corrective procedures to ensure their pearly whites and gum tissues are restored to their optimum condition. Cosmetic surgery may be required to minimise scarring, while problems with the jaw or bite may be treated by a maxillofacial surgeon.
What else should I consider?
While soft tissue trauma is often part of a multiple set of injuries, it can be just as important and often more difficult to treat than other areas. This type of ailment can be accompanied by blows to the face, neck or shoulders, as well as partially dislodged teeth.
Concussion is one of the most common issues that can arise when a person damages their mouth or face comma with many experiencing this while taking part in a competitive sport. While the majority of instances are mild, it is possible to threaten the health of the brain, so should be treated as soon as possible.
Individuals experiencing this type of problem should ensure they get an adequate amount of rest to allow the issue to pass. It is important to remember that allowing the patient to fall unconscious can be extremely dangerous as it could indicate a more severe injury to the brain.
Another factor to consider is that it is possible for the effects of a concussion, which is caused by bruising on the brain, to take some time to come to the forefront. If a patient has heavily dilated pupils or becomes incapable of walking, this is an indication that bleeding on the brain has continued.
It is important to seek expert advice regarding a blow to the head event after the event and if the patient feels better. As a result, it is possible to enjoy peace of mind if a patient is given the all-clear, while any issues can be monitored from an early stage.
The practice is open Seven days a week from 8am to 11pm for routine dentistry and we offer a 24 hour emergency dental walk-in service 365 days a year. You can book a consultation at any time by calling our reception team 24 hours a day on 0208 547 9997 or contact us during our working hours by email.
