Dental Injuries After a Car Accident: What You Need to Know

When most people think about car accidents, they imagine broken bones, back injuries, or whiplash. Dental injuries rarely make the list of common crash outcomes—but they should. Your teeth, gums, and jaw are highly vulnerable during an impact, and damage to them can be both painful and costly to repair. Whether you’re the driver, passenger, or pedestrian, understanding how dental trauma happens—and what to do afterward—can protect both your health and your legal rights.

How Dental Injuries Occur in Auto Accidents

The sudden force of a collision can cause the head and mouth to strike the steering wheel, dashboard, airbag, or even your own teeth to collide. These impacts often result in cracked, chipped, or completely dislodged teeth. More severe cases may involve jaw fractures, nerve damage, or soft tissue injuries to the lips and gums. Even seemingly minor pain or sensitivity could signal an underlying injury that requires prompt attention.

The most common types of dental injuries from motor vehicle accidents include:

• Fractured or chipped teeth: Often caused by hitting hard surfaces or biting down forcefully during impact.
• Avulsed (knocked-out) teeth: When a tooth is completely displaced from the socket.
• Tooth intrusion: When a tooth is pushed back into the jawbone.
• TMJ (temporomandibular joint) injuries: Jaw misalignment or pain that affects chewing, talking, or smiling.
• Lacerations: Cuts to the lips, cheeks, or tongue from contact with broken teeth or external objects.

Immediate Steps to Take After a Dental Injury

If you suffer a dental injury in a car accident, seek medical and dental care immediately. Quick treatment can sometimes save a dislodged tooth or prevent infection. Document everything—your emergency room visit, dental consultations, X-rays, and all bills or estimates. This documentation is crucial if you later pursue a personal injury claim.

It’s equally important to report the accident to law enforcement and your insurance company, even if the injuries seem minor at first. Some dental injuries, especially those affecting the jaw or nerves, may take days to fully manifest. Delaying medical attention could not only worsen your condition but also weaken your claim for compensation.

The Legal Aspect: Why You Need an Auto Accident Attorney

Dental injuries can be expensive to treat. Procedures like root canals, implants, crowns, and orthodontic correction can easily cost thousands of dollars and may require ongoing care. If another driver’s negligence caused your accident, you have the right to seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future dental treatment costs.

However, proving the link between the accident and your dental injury can be complex. Insurance companies often dispute or minimize claims involving dental trauma. A competent auto accident attorney can help gather the necessary evidence—such as accident reports, dental records, expert evaluations, and photographs—to establish liability and ensure you receive fair compensation.

Final Thoughts

Dental injuries may not be the first thing that comes to mind after a car accident, but their impact can be long-lasting—both physically and financially. Prompt treatment and skilled legal representation can make a significant difference in your recovery and your claim’s outcome. If you’ve sustained a dental injury in an auto accident, don’t ignore the pain or delay seeking help. Get the medical attention you need and contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can protect your rights and help you secure the compensation you deserve.