Basketball season is here! As much as you enjoy watching the Cats, you are looking forward to watching your son and daughter take the court.
You’ve watched them shooting in the driveway. You’ve seen them working on their dribbling.
But nothing is going to prepare them or you for an elbow to the mouth while they are fighting for a rebound. If you are lucky, this may only result in a sore, swollen lip. If not, your child could end up with broken or knocked out teeth.
And that is a dental emergency.
If you live in or near Edgewood, KY, we hope you will save our number, 859-474-7830, in your phone. We hope you never need it for the reason mentioned above, but if you do, we want you to get help as quickly as possible.
At Edgewood Dental Care, we will make every effort to treat your dental emergency that same day. We are open late four nights per week, and we are open Saturdays.
What To Do About A Broken Tooth
If your child does suffer a broken tooth on the basketball court or anywhere else, here are some tips on what to do.
Keep in mind that you should be wearing latex or vinyl gloves any time you are helping with any dental emergency.
You will first want to rinse his or her mouth with water. Use gauze to soak up the blood until the bleeding stops. When the bleeding ends, your child should rinse his or her mouth again.
You can use more gauze or dental wax to cover the broken tooth. When a tooth breaks, it may have a sharp edge or point. Covering it will reduce the risk of accidentally cutting soft tissues or the tongue.
An ice or cold pack may reduce swelling around the affected tooth. And your son or daughter may want to take an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed.
When you have the opportunity, call us as soon as you are able to arrange an appointment with one of our doctors. Once the situation is under control, then we can discuss options for repairing the damaged tooth.
What To Do If A Tooth Is Knocked Out Of Its Socket
If your child loses a tooth as a result of an elbow or any traumatic injury, many of the steps will be similar.
You should wear protective gloves. You also should try to find the missing tooth. If you do, pick it up by the crown. Avoid touching the root if possible.
As your son or daughter is rinsing his or her mouth, you can rinse the tooth. Again you can use gauze to soak up blood as needed.
When the bleeding stops, try to place the tooth back in its socket. Leave it there if it will stay. Place the tooth in a container of milk if it won’t stay in place. You should bring the tooth with you when you come to our office. In some instances (not all), it may be possible to save the tooth.
And again, use an ice or cold pack and over-the-counter medication if needed.
We will do our best to save the tooth. If that’s not possible, we will discuss the tooth replacement options.
How To Reduce The Risk Of A Dental Emergency
You can’t anticipate every possible dental emergency, but you can take steps to protect against them. If your children participate in any high-impact sport, then they should be wearing custom-fitted athletic mouthguards whenever they practice or play.
You may not realize it, but basketball is the sport that causes the most dental injuries among 13- to 17-year-olds, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
Wearing a custom-fitted mouthguard provides the best protection against the kinds of injuries described in the opening. Your child may still end up with a swollen lip, but we think you will agree that that’s better than an emergency trip to the dentist.
Custom-fitted mouthguards are smaller than the boil-and-bite mouthguards that you can find in stores. The smaller mouthguards are more comfortable to wear. They also won’t interfere with your children’s ability to speak or breathe like bulky store-bought mouthguards can.
Get Your Mouthguards Today
We would much rather see you this week to make athletic mouthguards than to see you in a month with a dental emergency. To make an appointment to protect your favorite smiles, call 859-474-7830 or contact us online today.