Sports dentistry involves the prevention and treatment of dental injuries and related oral diseases, as well as the sharing of information and equipment designed to help protect the teeth, mouth, jaw, and face of athletes of all ages.
Injuries to the teeth and mouth are common among athletes. It’s vital to protect your son or daughter’s smile if he or she plays sports, for aesthetic as well as health reasons.
Common Dental Injuries in Sports
Tooth Knocked Out
- Time is the most important factor when you’re trying to save a tooth, so get to our office as soon as possible. In general, there is a 30-minute window of opportunity to re-implant a tooth in the socket.
- Do not try to re-implant the tooth yourself.
- The best liquid to transport a tooth in is cold milk. If milk is not available, use saliva (if possible), saline, or if nothing else is available, water.
- Don’t let the tooth dry out and don’t wrap it in anything.
Tooth Chipped/Cracked
- Your dentist will likely use an X-ray of the tooth to determine the treatment necessary. For a serious chip that exposes the pulp of the tooth, get to our office as soon as possible.
- If a tooth is chipped or cracked, sometimes the tooth can be fixed with a filling or bonding alone.
- Sometimes a tooth is cracked or chipped in a way that affects the nerve of the tooth, and a more complicated treatment may be needed.
Tooth Displaced
- If a tooth is moved due to trauma, see our team as soon as possible.
- Do not try to move the tooth back on your own.
- For any mouth discomfort before you get to our office, apply ice.
Preventing Injury
One of the best ways to prevent injury to your child’s teeth and mouth is to have him or her to wear a mouthguard while playing sports. There are several types of mouthguards to choose from, and we can help you choose the best one for your child’s particular needs.
