Hjorth Dental Group

Athletic and Sports Dental Emergencies

Professionally-made properly fitted Custom Mouth guards are recommended for all contact and collision sports. Call us for an appointment.

Fracture (broken tooth).

1. 1. If the tooth is totally broken in half, save the broken portion and bring it with you to the dental office as described under Avulsion (see below). Stabilize portion of the tooth left in mouth by gently biting on towel or handkerchief to control bleeding
2. 2. Should extreme pain occur, limit the contact with other teeth, air, or tongue. Pulp nerve may be exposed, which is extremely painful to the athlete
3. 3. IMMEDIATELY TRANSPORT THE PATIENT AND TOOTH FRAGMENTS TO A DENTIST.

Avulsion (entire tooth knocked-out)

1. 1. Avoid additional trauma to the tooth while handling. Do Not handle the tooth by the root. Do Not brush or scrub the tooth. Do Not sterilize the tooth.
2. 2. If debris is on the tooth, gently rinse with water.
3. 3. If possible, re-implant the tooth and stabilize by biting down gently on a towel or handkerchief. Do only if the athlete is alert and conscious.
4. 4. If unable to re-implant: Best - Place the tooth in Hank’s Balanced Saline Solution
• 2nd best - Place the tooth in cold milk.
• 3rd best - Wrap the tooth in saline-soaked gauze.
• 4th best - Place the tooth under athlete’s tongue. Do this ONLY if athlete is conscious and alert.
• 5th best - Place the tooth in cup of water.
5. 5. Time is very important. Re-implantation within 30 minutes has the highest degree of success rate. TRANSPORT THE PATIENT IMMEDIATELY TO A DENTIST.

Types of Luxations (tooth in socket but in wrong position):

-Extruded Tooth (If an upper tooth hangs down and/or a lower tooth is raised up).

1. 1. Reposition the tooth in socket using firm finger pressure.
2. 2. Stabilize the tooth by gently biting on towel or handkerchief
3. 3. TRANSPORT THE PATIENT IMMEDIATLEY TO A DENTIST.

-Lateral Displacement (If a tooth is pushed back or pulled forward)

1. 1. Try to reposition the tooth using finger pressure.
2. 2. Athlete may require local anesthetic to reposition the tooth; if so stabilize the tooth by gently biting on towel or handkerchief.
3. 3. TRANSPORT THE PATIENT IMMEDIATLEY TO A DENTIST.

-Intruded Tooth - (tooth pushed into the gum -- looks short)

1. 1. Do nothing - avoid any repositioning of tooth.
2. 2. TRANSPORT THE PATIENT IMMEDIATLEY TO A DENTIST.