Car accidents can affect more than just your bones or muscles. Your teeth and jaw are also vulnerable to serious injury. While most people focus on physical trauma after a collision, dental injuries are often overlooked. Unfortunately, they can lead to significant long-term complications if not addressed promptly.

“In a lot of cases, people walk away from a crash thinking they’re fine, but the damage doesn’t show up until later,” says Dr. Stephen Norton. “Dental trauma can be subtle at first but it has the potential to get serious fast.”

Understanding Dental Injuries After a Car Accident

Some of the most frequent dental injuries after a car accident can include:

  • Cracked or Broken Teeth
  • Loosened or Knocked-Out Teeth
  • Damage to Existing Crowns, Bridges, or Veneers
  • Jaw Pain or TMJ Pain from Whiplash

“Even a minor fender bender can cause a tooth to fracture, especially if you’ve had prior work like a crown or implant,” Dr. Norton explains. “I’ve had patients who didn’t notice anything until they tried to chew or brush the next day.”

Left untreated, these injuries can lead to tooth infections, loss of neighboring teeth, gum disease, and long-term bone deterioration. The key to avoiding that is early intervention.

What to Do Immediately After the Accident

If you suspect a dental injury, time is critical. Check your mouth for bleeding, loose teeth, or anything that feels abnormal. If a tooth has been knocked out, avoid touching the root. Gently rinse it and store it in a container and head straight to a dental office. “Time is everything. Ideally, we want to see that patient within the hour.” says Dr. Norton. 

Taking photos of the injury, any visible damage inside or outside your mouth, and the conditions at the scene can also be helpful. These photos not only aid in diagnosis but are useful if your injury becomes part of a legal claim later.

When to See a Dental Specialist

You should ideally see a dentist within 24 hours of the accident. In the event of a lost tooth, feel swelling, or have any bite changes, the earlier you come in, the better. The sooner the issue is diagnosed and stabilized, the better your outcome. For knocked-out teeth, timing can even be the difference between saving and losing the tooth permanently.

“When someone comes in after an accident, our job is to be the quarterback,” Dr. Norton says. “We diagnose what’s happening, take X-rays, and refer to a specialist like an oral surgeon if needed.”

Even if no immediate work is needed, follow-up is essential. “I’ve seen fractures that took days to become painful or visible. Don’t assume everything’s fine just because there’s no bleeding or swelling.”

Treatment Options for Car Accident-Related Dental Injuries

Treatment depends on the location and severity of the injury. Minor chips might only require bonding or enamel smoothing. More serious cracks can call for crowns, root canals, or even implants if the tooth cannot be saved.

“Every case is different,” says Dr. Norton. “We look at where the damage is, how deep it goes, and what will give the patient the best long-term result functionally and cosmetically.”

When trauma involves visible teeth, restoring aesthetics is just as important as fixing structure. That’s where a cosmetic dentist often comes in. “We want to make sure the end result doesn’t just feel good but it should look natural too,” he adds. “Especially with front teeth, patients want to feel confident again.”

If a tooth has been knocked out, reinserting and stabilizing it with a splint is the best-case scenario but it needs to happen fast. “We’ve had cases where a tooth was saved just because someone acted quickly and brought it in the right way,” he says.

Talking To Your Attorney About Your Dental Injuries

Dental treatment after a car accident can be expensive, particularly when cosmetic or long-term care is involved. Informing your attorney as soon as possible ensures that your dental costs (both current and future) are considered as part of your claim.

“I always tell patients: keep everything,” says Dr. Norton. “Receipts, photos, even the damaged crown. Anything that supports your injury will help your case.”

Dentists play a crucial role in providing treatment documentation, diagnoses, and expert opinions that attorneys use to establish injury severity. “I’ve worked with many personal injury lawyers,” Dr. Norton explains. “Our records help validate what happened and what treatment is going to look like moving forward.”

If your injury affects your appearance or requires restorative work beyond functional repair, your attorney may also need input from a cosmetic dentist to estimate future expenses or justify the need for advanced procedures.

Contact Us to Discuss Your Car Accident Injury

If you’ve been in a car accident and suspect something isn’t right with your teeth or jaw, don’t wait. What starts as a small issue can evolve into something much more complex.

Working with a trusted dental team and a personal injury attorney can help you recover fully. And when appearance matters, involving a cosmetic dentist ensures your smile gets the attention it deserves.