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With fall sports in full swing around Waterloo, most days are packed with excitement. However, sports impacts can cause cracked or knocked-out teeth. The right plan helps prevent panic and ensure timely treatment.
Our team at Icon Dental Clinic answered the most common emergency dentistry questions parents ask about fall sports safety.
Q: What should I do if my child’s tooth is pushed sideways or jammed after a collision?
A shifted or loose tooth is still a serious dental emergency! Do not try to force or twist the tooth back into alignment yourself.
Have your child gently bite down on a clean piece of cotton gauze to hold the tooth steady. Then, apply a cold pack to their cheek to reduce swelling, and head straight to a dental clinic. A dentist needs to take digital X-rays to check for root fractures and splint the tooth properly.
Q: How do custom sports mouthguards protect kids with braces?
Braces add a unique safety challenge during contact sports. A direct hit to the mouth can drive sharp metal brackets deep into the soft inside of lips and cheeks. A custom orthodontic mouthguard fits over brackets to absorb shock and protect soft tissues.
Q: Why can’t I just use tap water to store a knocked-out tooth while driving to the clinic?
Plain tap water contains a lower salt concentration than human body cells. When a living tooth root is submerged in tap water, water rushes into the delicate root cells. The influx causesill causeswell, them, to burst and die. Storing the tooth in cold milk, saline solution, or the player’s own saliva maintains the correct chemical balance to keep cells alive.
Get Game-Day Ready with Custom Protection
Don’t let a sports injury interrupt your athlete’s fall season. Custom mouthguards help keep your child’s smile safe from unexpected hits and prevent dental injuries.
Emergency Contact Info: If a sports dental injury occurs during our business hours, call Icon Dental Clinic in Waterloo at 519-886-2200 for immediate assistance.
Emergency Care Outside Business Hours: If an accident happens during an evening game or weekend tournament when our office is closed, seek immediate care at an after-hours emergency dental facility. Acting within 60 minutes is vital to saving a knocked-out permanent tooth!
