Sports is a treasured pastime for many of us, but what should we do if we experience a dental emergency on the field, rink or court? Our North York dentists provide some advice on how to deal with the unexpected.
What is a dental emergency?
Many of us suit up frequently to play the sport we love, but few people expect to experience an injury and subsequent dental emergency.
Dental emergencies can happen as a result of any trauma to the mouth that causes bleeding and lacerations to the gums. Teeth may also be fractured or dislodged. Any of these circumstances would require immediate medical attention from a qualified dentist.
Symptoms of Sports Injuries
If you experience any trauma to your mouth or teeth, call your dentist immediately so we can schedule an appointment to assess your injury. These are examples of emergencies that will require treatment as soon as possible:
- Knocked out or dislodged tooth
- Fractured tooth
- Dislodged or broken crown, or loose filling
- Bitten tongue with uncontrolled bleeding
- Fractured tooth root
- Tooth intrusion
- Jaw injury/dislocation
What to Do Next
You may be able to avoid long-term dental problems or complications if you’re able to have your injury treated immediately. If you experience any of the symptoms above, call our office as soon as possible.
If your tooth has been knocked out, bring the tooth to our office. The sooner you come in (preferably within an hour of the injury occurring) the higher chance we have of saving it.
Our goal will be to treat your symptoms, help alleviate your pain and fix your smile. We want to see you smiling, and back on the field - playing safely - again.
Diagnosis
When you arrive at our office, specific actions we take will depend on your situation. You can be assured we’ll examine your injury, assess and accurately diagnose the issue.
We may be able to save a knocked out tooth by performing a re-implantation procedure.
Prevention
Wearing a mouthguard while playing contact sports can help protect your teeth from trauma or injury.
