Cosmetic Dentist

When you get into a car accident, one of the questions you may have is whether you need to see a dentist after your car accident. The answer to this may depend. If your car accident was not too severe (or you consider it to be a minor fender bender), you may not have to worry at all about seeing a dentist, especially if your head did not hit the car or another object during impact. However, when the force of the crash causes your head to hit something in your car or causes an airbag to deploy in your face, you should consider seeking the help of a dentist as soon as possible so they can assess the damage, help you recover, and help you with the documentation for your legal claim. For more information, please contact a dentist to set up a consultation.

Are dental injuries common after car accidents?

Often, most people are concerned with the obvious injuries that people sustain after a car accident, such as whiplash, a hurt back, cuts or bruises, or pinched nerves. While these are incredibly important to get checked out by a doctor, all too often people forget that they need to see their dentist to assess any oral injuries that occurred because of the accident.

Why is this important?

This is important because you may not realize that you sustained any damage to your mouth after the accident due to the amount of adrenaline pumping through your body. Similar to any other type of injury you can sustain in a car accident, if it is not immediately visible (like internal bleeding or whiplash), the symptoms can creep up on you hours or even days after the accident. Thus, if you are not missing a tooth or your teeth are not obviously damaged, you may not even realize there is internal root damage done to your teeth. Therefore, it is incredibly important to be limited in what you say to the other driver after the accident. Do not reply with “I feel fine” or “I don’t feel any injuries.” When you go to make your claim, even with the help and documentation of your dentist, an insurance company may come back and repeat that you stated you had no injuries.

Are dental injuries considered cosmetic treatment?

When you go in to fix a dental injury after a car accident, speak with your dentist upfront about why you are there, how you sustained any injuries, and go over a detailed treatment plan. Your insurance provider may see a bill for veneers to fix your chipped tooth as a cosmetic treatment, but when it is the result of a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, your dentist and your attorney can work together to provide the evidence necessary so that the other driver’s insurance can compensate you for dental procedures directly related to the accident.  

For more information on how a cosmetic dentist can help you with your treatment and insurance claim after a car accident, reach out to one now.

Resources:

Wikipedia, Dental Care

Alliance Dentistry, Cary, NC Cosmetic Dentist