There are two primary ways in which you could lose a tooth. An accident or injury that causes a forceful blow to the area could knock a tooth out. Decay and periodontal disease could also result in the gradual degradation of a tooth until it's lost, whether by falling out of its own accord or by intervention from your dentist. It could conceivably be a combination of the two, in which a tooth that has been weakened due to periodontal disease more easily falls out as the result of an accident. If you have braces, you will require regular dental examinations, meaning that any signs of periodontal disease will be noticed and rectified within a timely fashion. But what about a blow to the mouth that could potentially loosen a tooth? Is this rather unsettling prospect different when you have braces?

The Difference with Braces

A severe blow to the mouth can require examination regardless of whether you have braces or not. The issue with facing such a problem when wearing braces is that some aspects of the injury can seem worse than they are, and other complications might be hidden. What does this mean?

Tissue Damage

The ligatures on your braces can cut the insides of your cheeks when you sustain a blow to the mouth. This means that bleeding could be more likely, and indeed, more sustained. Certainly, heavy bleeding should be examined by your dentist, or even your doctor. The tissue damage will need to be assessed to see if it will heal of its own accord, or if assistance is required. The amount of blood can potentially make the issue seem worse than it is, but this does not necessarily mean that any problems have been averted once the bleeding stops.

An Examination

Your orthodontist will need to assess your braces after such an incident. There is a possibility that damage to the root structure of an individual tooth has gone unnoticed due to the fact that it has been held firmly in place by the braces. This doesn't mean that you are likely to lose the tooth, but appropriate treatment will be required. The archwire and metal bands will also need to be examined for warping. In extreme circumstances, some brackets (affixed to each tooth) will need to be replaced if they are damaged and can no longer support the ligature and archwire.

Just remember that if you should sustain such an injury, a full examination is necessary to ensure that your braces are still able to do their job.