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Sports Related Emergencies
Sports injuries happen so fast, and it can be difficult to determine the next best steps to take. If you or your child have serious, non-dental related injuries that need to be taken care of first, it’s better to visit an emergency room before coming to our office. However, if the emergency is mostly tooth, gum, or mouth-related, visiting Paris Mountain Dental Care for emergency dental care should be the top priority. Please call our office as soon as you can so we can clear our schedule and prepare for your arrival.
Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
One of the most common sports-related dental injuries is knocking out one or more adult teeth. When this happens, it’s important not to panic, but still get to your nearest emergency dentist as soon as possible. Locate the tooth and pick it up by the crown. If it has broken into pieces, gather them together if possible. We may be able to repair the tooth and reattach it. Rinse the tooth off, and place it back in the socket if it’s not too painful. Gently bite down on a clean piece of cloth to hold the tooth in place. If the tooth cannot be reinserted, put it into a cup of milk or saliva. This will help keep it alive while you are in the process of getting to our office.
Cracked Tooth
If one or more teeth were not knocked out but were still cracked, broken, or otherwise damaged, we will want to see you for an emergency dental appointment right away. If your gums are bleeding profusely, hold a piece of gauze or cloth over the area and resist the urge to check if the bleeding has stopped for at least 15 minutes. Ibuprofen is a good over-the-counter pain medication to take if there is a lot of swelling. However, Tylenol is a better choice if there is any dental bleeding, since it is not a blood thinner.
Preventing Sports-Related Dental Injuries in Travelers Rest
At Paris Mountain Dental, we always prefer to help our patients avoid needing restorative dental care in the first place. That’s why we recommend that patients who are involved in aggressive contact sports have custom athletic mouthguards created for them. Custom mouthguards are comfortable to wear, even during long practices and games. They are also very durable and can be used to protect a patient’s smile for many years before they need to be replaced. Getting a sports mouthguard can be a great investment for patients who want to protect their beautiful smiles and avoid emergency dental treatments.
Restorative Treatments at Paris Mountain Dental
Once a dental injury has occurred, restorative dental work will likely be necessary. We hope that doesn’t happen, but if you have a dental injury you can count on our team to help you find the best restorative treatment to get your smile back to a healthy state. Contact us today to schedule an athletic mouthguard or consult about our other comprehensive dental services.