2024
Avoiding common dental emergencies in popular Surrey-area sports
Fun fact: Can you guess which sport causes the most dental emergencies? The answer might surprise you. Find it at the end of this article.
We are big fans of the diverse range of popular sporting activities here in Surrey: badminton, pickleball, volleyball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, football, hockey, boxing, martial arts, swimming, etc. The list goes on and on.
As an emergency dental care provider, dental trauma caused by sports is of great concern to us because most of these types of injuries are preventable with mouth guards.
Emergency dental care: most common sports injuries
- Knocked-out tooth (avulsion). Locate the tooth, only touch the crown (not the root, to avoid injuring the ligaments), rinse off any dirt (do not scrub), try to insert the tooth back into the socket, or keep it moist in milk or saliva, seek immediate care at a dental clinic.
- Partial knock-out: slowly push the tooth back into place. Seek care.
- Intrusion. This happens when a tooth is pushed down into the jaw. Seek immediate emergency dental care.
- Cracks/chips. Seek out professional dental services in Surrey to repair cracks and chips in teeth.
The consequences of these kinds of dental injuries include pain and suffering, loss of natural teeth, expensive treatments, surgery and loss of playing time due to recovery. So you can see how vital it is to protect teeth when playing sports.
Mouth guards are designed expressly for the purpose of protecting teeth during sports.
Types of Mouth guard
- Custom-fit. Created for you from a mould of your teeth, by your dentist. Comfortable to wear and streamlined.
- Store-bought. Fit at home. You can find these at drugstores. You drop a mould into hot water, then press it and shape it around your teeth. These are a little thicker and not as comfy as custom-fit ones.
- Stock mouth guard. These are pre-shaped slip-ons for your teeth. They tend to be bulky in the mouth. They’re not ideal, but they’re inexpensive and better than nothing.
We’ve written about mouth guards in more detail here. If you want to know more, our friendly staff are happy to answer your questions. 604-584-2535
Now, back to our fun fact. The answer to the question regarding which sport causes the most dental emergencies is: basketball!
That’s mostly because so few players wear mouth guards. But awareness is spreading and mouth guard use is increasing. As expected, the number of dental injuries is decreasing in response. All cheer!
Riverside Heights Dental Centre is an authorised provider of Under Armour mouth guards for high-impact sports. Read more about the unique protection of Under Armour mouth guards during sport activities. Contact us for more information and to book a fitting today. 604-584-2535