Spring Sports and Tooth Injuries

Spring Sports and Teeth Injuries


With the beginning of the spring sports season, we see trauma to children’s teeth. Many parents wonder what they need to do, who they need to see.
Your child’s dentist, family dentist or an oral surgeon is always the best place to start. Most emergency rooms do not have a dentist on staff and may not have the expertise that your dentist would.
The most common sport’s injuries are fractured or chipped teeth, teeth moved out of position or forced out and lacerations or cuts that may require stitches.
When a tooth is fractured or chipped, the dentist will take an x-ray to make sure the nerve or root of the tooth has not been affected.
If the nerve is not affected, the dentist will proceed to repair the tooth with composite filling material, a tooth colored resin. If too much tooth has been damaged the tooth may require a crown.
If the x-ray shows an injured root along with the fractured tooth, the tooth will require a root canal or pulpotomy. After the root canal or pulpotomy, the tooth will be restored with one of the above options.
When a tooth is moved out of position the blood supply to the tooth can be interrupted leading to a darkening of the tooth and eventual death of the nerve. Orthodontic help may be required to reposition the tooth. Your dentist will determine the necessary treatment.
If a tooth is forced out or avulsed, rinse the tooth off with water, holding the tooth by the crown and try to replace it in the socket. Do not dry or wrap the tooth and avoid touching the root of the tooth. Ligaments attached to the root need to stay moist so the tooth may be successfully implanted. Placing the tooth in milk or saline solution will also keep the root moist. Eye contact solution is not a good solution to use. If the tooth is successfully implanted with in thirty minutes, the tooth can have a good chance of surviving.
Lacerations or cuts to the lip or tongue may require stitches if they are deep enough. Placing gentle pressure with a clean towel or gauze will help control the bleeding until you get to the dentist office.
Your pediatric or family dentist is the best place to start with any dental emergency. Most offices have contact numbers for nights and weekends and are happy to help their patients.