Prevention and Treatment of Dental Injuries
By Ron Duffin, DDS

Dental trauma due to sports injury is devastating to any athlete. Trauma in the pediatric population is complicated by the continued development and maturation of individual teeth.  Although injury is common in the pediatric population due to increased risk-taking behavior and under-developed coordination, few people know how to correctly address a dental trauma emergency. 

First, you will need to keep the patient quiet and assess where the damage is.  Has the patient knocked loose a tooth or lacerated the gum tissue or cheek area?  If the patient has lost a tooth and the root has come out as well, keep the tooth in a moist environment (preferably milk). Do not put the tooth in water, due to the chemicals involved in water processing. You may ask the patient to place the tooth in his or her mouth, if they are old enough not to swallow it. If necessary, and if you truly love your child, place the lost tooth in your own mouth! 

Time is critical for re-implantation. Try to get into your dental office quickly. Your dentist may be able to insert the tooth back into the socket and stabilize it well enough for the tooth to adhere back to the natural bone. 

Patients who suffer severe blows to the face may have fractured the roots of the teeth under the gum area.  If you see increased swelling and pain that does not subside, take your child to the dentist for a professional diagnosis. 

Teeth may also change color months or even years after an accident. Occasionally it will take this long for the nerve to die in a tooth.  The patient may not experience any symptoms, and sometimes this can only be seen in an x-ray.  Most dental emergencies can be handled in your dental office, rarely would you need to take your child to the emergency room for a dental emergency.

Mouth guards are recommended for young individuals, as well as any athlete at any age, involved in contact sports such as football, basketball and hockey.  These flexible plastic appliances that are worn over the teeth help protect them during a traumatic blow to the face. Personalized athletic mouth guards can be made at your dental office.

Teeth that are lost due to trauma can be replaced through implants after the patient has matured, or can be replaced with a temporary appliance commonly referred to as a “flipper”, which is removable and basically replaces missing teeth for esthetic reasons alone.

In a dental trauma emergency, it is important that you have a professional examine the patient to clarify the damage to supporting tissues and bone.  This will enable the young patient to develop proper occlusion and alveolar support as the permanent teeth and bone mature.

Ron Duffin DDS