What to Do About a Dental Emergency While Playing Sports

Athletes face many potential dental injuries. A dental emergency while playing sports can cause fear - and pain. Our dentists in Edmonton share what you can do about emergencies and how to prevent them.

What are common dental injuries athletes face?

These dental injuries are common in athletes since they are usually the result of a blow to the face or head.

Knocked Out Tooth

Our favourite athletes often appear on the field, ice, or on television with gaps between their teeth. This is because a knocked out tooth is a common sports injury.

If your tooth has been knocked out, try to find it as soon as possible. Pick it up by the crown and do not touch the root. Rinse it off and place it back into the socket if possible, biting down gently to hold it in place.

If you are not able to put the tooth back into its socket, keeping it moist will be key. Place the tooth in a cup of your saliva or milk (not water), or in your mouth next to your cheek until you're able to get to your dentist's office.

Ideally, you'll be able to get to the dentist's office within 30 minutes of the injury. If you see your dentist soon enough, they might be able to save your tooth.

Fractured Tooth Roots

Take a hard hit from the wrong angle and you could suffer a fractured tooth root. In these cases, the crack originates from the roots of the tooth and makes its way up.

It’s possible that you won’t feel any symptoms from a fractured tooth root. Since they are hidden below the gum line, they sometimes only become apparent when an infection grows in the pulp of the tooth.

A patient with a tooth root fracture should have root canal therapy as soon as possible to prevent or treat infection.

Tooth Intrusion

Tooth intrusion is another painful condition that occurs when the tooth is driven back into the jawbone.

Children often experience this injury more than adults, as the alveolar bones that hold their tooth sockets are not as strong as those of adults.

Depending on whether it is a primary (baby) tooth or a permanent one, treatment will vary. In primary teeth, the dentist will allow the intruded tooth to spontaneously re-erupt, provided that it has not intruded into the developing adult tooth. If the tooth does not re-erupt, the dentist will remove it.

A permanent intruded tooth will also be given the chance to passively re-erupt. If re-eruption does not happen, surgical or orthodontic re-eruption treatment can be performed, along with endodontic treatment.

Cracked Tooth

A cracked tooth involves a split or crack that begins at the crown and extends down into the tooth. If you have a cracked tooth, you may experience sharp pain when you bite down, intermittent tooth pain, or sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures. You may also not experience any symptoms at all.

Depending on the type of crack and its severity, your dentist may repair it with a crown, filling or dental bonding. In very severe cases, a root canal or extraction may be necessary. See your dentist as soon as possible.

How to prevent sports injuries

Many dental emergencies that result from sports injuries can be prevented with a custom-made mouth guard, which acts as a barrier between your teeth and gums, and cushions your teeth from blows to the head or face.

If you play sports or engage in high-impact physical activities, talk to your dentist about a custom-made mouthguard today.