International Epilepsy Day
by Mirte Gratama | Guest Blogger blue®m | Feb 8, 2021
Today is International Epilepsy Day. A day, to draw attention to this condition. blue®m is doing its part by sharing advice today on dental damage caused by falling or bumping.
Epilepsy? High risk of dental damage
People with epilepsy don’t often think of oral problems, yet the risk of damage to their teeth is high. People with epilepsy can fall unexpectedly more often than other people, which can damage or break a tooth. This is very unpleasant. It often hurts a lot and the restoration of your beautiful teeth can be quite an expense.
Expert advice from dentist in cases of epilepsy
Dentist Eric-Jan Royakkers reassures, however. In most cases, damage can be repaired properly. “If we know that someone has epilepsy, we always make a scan of the teeth, so we know what the original position of the teeth is,” Royakkers explains. “We also often do this with people who play intensive field hockey or kickboxing and also have an increased risk of dental damage. If you then damage a tooth, this way we can put it back as accurately as possible.”
What should you do when teeth are damaged?
Depending on the damage, Royakkers gives two pieces of advice. “If your tooth has fallen out completely with its root, keep it under your tongue or in a glass of milk. The dentist can then replace it in many cases. If that is not possible, we can place an implant based on a scan made earlier. Did your tooth break off partially and you still got the piece of the tooth? Keep it safe. Using a special bonding technique, we can place the piece back precisely. Often you won’t even see the difference. In both cases it is important to act quickly, because of the pain that comes with damage,” says Royakkers.
Urgent treatment reduces the risk of problems
Do you suffer from epilepsy or do you know someone in your family who does? Then it is wise to report this to your dentist or dental hygienist. It is also wise to get extra insurance for dental accidents, so that you can have your problem fixed quickly. The coverage can go up to 10,000 euros per event, per year. Worthwhile to look into. If you don’t treat damage to the teeth in time, it can cause severe pain and cause more oral problems in the long run. There is also a possible relationship between Covid-19 and damage to the mouth. So always try to make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.