Car Accident Lawyer
It’s not unusual to need orthodontic treatments for car accident injuries because the occupants will collide against a hard surface. If their face or mouth hits the dashboard, the seat in front of them, or the windshield, it can cause significant damage to their teeth. A car accident lawyer focuses on clients who have suffered serious injuries in accidents caused by negligent drivers. Injuries to the mouth are not uncommon, and in addition to their painful nature, orthodontic treatments for car accident injuries are often costly. If you were hurt in this way, you may be eligible for compensation for your damages from the at-fault driver. If you would like to know more, call our office today and request a free consultation with our car accident lawyer.
What are common types of car accident injuries that affect the teeth?
Even when the vehicles are traveling at lower speeds, injuries to the teeth are common in collisions. It’s very important to see an orthodontist immediately following a blow to the mouth because some serious injuries are not immediately apparent. It may be necessary to undergo orthodontic treatments for car accident injuries regardless of the victim’s age. The severity of the injuries will vary depending on how the injury occurred, the overall oral health of the victim, and their age. Your condition may involve one or more of the following:
- If one or more teeth broke, and they are not baby teeth, orthodontic treatments for car accident injuries can be handled in one of several ways:
- Broken tooth: If the tooth’s pulp is dead, inflamed, or becomes infected it may be necessary to undergo a root canal. It’s not unusual for this to happen at some point in the future rather than in the short term. If your orthodontist determines this is a possibility, your car accident lawyer can include future medical care in the list of damages against the at-fault party.
- Fractured tooth: A fracture can be relatively minor if the outer tooth layer (dentin and enamel) is chipped, or the injury can be severe if the tooth or its root is fractured. An orthodontist, like a San Clemente, CA orthodontist, may opt to extract the tooth, do a filling, or install a crown. In some cases, a root canal may be necessary.
- If a tooth is moved out of position, it has been displaced. Orthodontic treatments for car accident injuries of this kind may necessitate a splint to realign the tooth. The splint may be comprised of orthodontic wires and brackets, much like braces. The length of time required for this treatment will depend in large part on how severely the tooth was displaced. If the trauma to the tooth was significant, an eventual root canal may be necessary.
Be sure to get copies of your dental exam and treatment, as well copies of your bill. Your car accident lawyer will need these when developing your claim for compensation from the at-fault driver.
Seek Orthodontic Treatment Immediately After an Accident
If your mouth suffered trauma in an accident, you may need long term as well as short term treatment. Orthodontic treatments for car accident injuries can be included as damages in an injury claim that a car accident lawyer can handle for you while you focus on recovery.
Thanks to our friends and contributors from John Redmond Orthodontics for their insight into orthodontic treatments for car accidents.