Dental Emergencies on the Playing Field

Spring’s sports season is upon us!  It’s not uncommon to see dental emergencies and trauma with any sports season. The key to handling these emergencies starts with prevention! At Longboard Dental, we recommend all athletes, especially those in contact sports, to get a good fitting athletic mouthguard. You don’t have to break the bank to do this—Simple, over-the-counter guards are great for growing smiles. These guards typically are “boil and bite” and instructions include having the guard initially softened in warm water, to better adapt to the tooth surface.

Check out these simple Shock Doctor Guards: https://amzn.to/3vCj1l3

Or, for a little more fun, these themed guards:  https://amzn.to/3J7b6PS

For adults or children with all of their permanent dentition and are done growing, we can create for you at Longboard Dental a truly custom guard in the office. These guards have all sorts of technical feedback available for patients—and some can even detect the impact that should be signal players to be assessed for concussion!

One common dental emergency we see on the playing field is when a tooth is partially or fully displaced, or in more severe situations, the tooth is “knocked out” (avulsed).  First, do not panic!

When possible, find the tooth! Be careful not to rinse the tooth off in plain water—it can effect the pH supportive of the tooth being reimplanted! One great product to have on standby for parents with children in contact sports is the Save a Tooth Kit, which gives Step-by-Step instructions on what to do in these scary situations.  

Save a Tooth:  https://amzn.to/3TKbqJ3

For teeth that have partially fractured or a portion of the tooth has chipped, be sure to bring the dental fragment to the office.  It may be helpful in repair!  In any dental emergency, be sure to stay calm, and give the office a call 843-654-1373, we are here to help!