Chicago Car Accidents and Dental Injuries

Car accident victims suffer many different types of fatal and non-fatal injuries, including broken bones and traumatic brain injuries. Almost all types of injuries from an auto accident establish grounds for compensation claims. However, claims for certain injuries are often overlooked.

Even though dental injuries are painful and may result in substantial financial losses, accident victims often shy away from filing a compensation claim for such injuries. This is quite surprising because dental injuries are common in auto accidents. When a car collides with another vehicle or suddenly stops, the occupants inside the car hit the dashboard, windshield, or other parts of the car and suffer serious dental injuries. The sudden motion forward also may cause a common neck injury called whiplash.

What Are the Different Types of Dental Injuries?

Almost every adult person has 32 teeth, with each tooth having five components, including the enamel, the dentin, the pulp, the surface layer, and periodontal ligament. Due to the complicated mechanism of human teeth, different types of dental injuries may occur in the event of an auto accident.

Fractured teeth – Sudden external forces may result in tooth fractures during a car accident. If the pulp of a tooth is exposed, it could be a severe fracture and may require a root canal. In some cases, a fracture may cause a serious infection to the tooth.

Dislodged tooth – Dislocation of a tooth is common in car accidents. Victims often suffer a heavy blow on the face and mouth. As a result, the victim’s tooth could be pushed away from its normal position.

Avulsed teeth – The heavy blow on the mouth during an auto accident may knock a victim’s teeth out. Depending on the severity of the injury, the avulsed tooth or teeth can be brought back to its normal position or may need a complete replacement.

Root fracture – In some cases, the external force on the teeth could be so harsh that it may cause serious damage to the root of the victim’s tooth or teeth. This could be painful and may require a complete tooth extraction.
Auto accident victims may also suffer different types of jaw injuries, including stiffness of the jaw muscles and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ).

What Causes Dental Injuries

An auto accident victim may suffer dental injuries for many reasons. Drivers and passengers can prevent or at least reduce the severity of dental injuries in a car accident simply by wearing seatbelts. In most cases, dental injuries are caused by collision with the dashboard, steering wheel, windshield, head rests, or cargo inside the car.

Seek Legal Help From Chicago Car Accident Lawyer

We understand the amount of pain and financial losses you might suffer from dental injuries. You may be able to claim compensation for the medical expenses and loss of earnings due to dental injuries. An experienced Chicago car accident lawyer from Willens Law Offices can provide you the right guidance and help you recover maximum compensation. Call us at (312) 957-4166.