Call Your Dentist to Handle a Sports-Related Dental Injury

Most people aren’t surprised by a hockey-related dental injury – but did you know that basketball players also snag their front teeth on the net during jumps? It happens more than you think. As it turns out, receiving a dental injury from playing sports is a fairly common occurrence. So when you’re in need of broken teeth repairs or a chipped tooth patch-up, the absolutely best thing to do is call your dentist: immediately.

The more common teeth injuries include, but are not limited to:

• Chipped teeth, which affects the enamel and dentin. Your dentist can repair chipped teeth in any number of ways.
• Dental fractures, where the tooth “cracks” horizontally or vertically. The type of treatment you get may depend on the type of fracture you sustain.
• Displaced teeth, where the tooth isn’t knocked out but may appear shorter, longer or “crooked” in the gum. Your dentist may choose to perform emergency tooth extractions if the teeth are too damaged to repair.
• Knocked out teeth. If you lose one or more teeth, it’s important to keep them — and your mouth — clean, as your dentist may be able to re-implant them.
• Infection, often caused by physical damage to the teeth themselves. Infections can lead to ailments affecting other parts of your body, so make sure to see a dentist and your general practitioner if you suffer a sports-related injury.

By contacting your dentist about your dental injury, you may be able to avoid further damage to your mouth. If the tooth is damaged beyond repair, your dentist can perform emergency tooth extractions in a safe, clean environment, which prevents infection from sitting in. So if you haven’t found an emergency dentist in NJ yet, now’s the time to do it.

When it Comes to Broken Teeth, Repairs Are Possible

A sports-related dental injury doesn’t have to become a permanent one. The dentistry field has some advanced methods for fixing broken teeth. Repairs are easier — and perhaps even avoidable — if you follow a few simple steps:

1. Wear a mouth guard. You may be able to prevent a dental injury altogether if you keep them protected.
2. Wear a helmet. Not only does it protect your head; it also protects your jaw. A broken jaw may result in broken teeth. Repairs may be more difficult if the jaw itself isn’t set properly.
3. Visit the dentist. Keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong BEFORE you start playing sports. You may be able to avoid infections by keeping your mouth healthy.

You dentist may choose to give you a crown or a permanent implant, depending on the type of injury you sustain. For lesser injuries, you may wish to speak with your dentist about veneers.

How Can an Emergency Dentist in NJ Help Me if My Tooth is Knocked Out?

If a sports-related dental injury actually causes you to lose a tooth, it’s important to keep a level head. Should you lose a tooth, contact your local emergency dentist in NJ first to make him/her aware of what happened.  Then, do the following:

1. Find the tooth.
2. Pick up the tooth by the crown, not the root.
3. Rinse the tooth in milk, if available.  If you don’t have any milk, use saline or saliva.
4. Bring the tooth to your dentist for implantation. DO NOT attempt to do this yourself.
5. Control the bleeding in your mouth as best you can.

Sports-related injuries, whether mild or severe, should be taken care of as quickly as possible. Make sure to contact your dentist whenever you hurt your teeth, even if it doesn’t “look that bad.” An injury might not be noticeable. Better to see your dentist and check it out than deal with emergency tooth extractions later on.