Children, Teen Athletes, and Dental Protection
(PART 2)
Responding to Dental Injuries:
What to Do Right Away
Despite best efforts at prevention, dental injuries do occur.
Knowing how to respond in the immediate aftermath can significantly affect outcomes.
Chipped or Broken Teeth
If a tooth chips or breaks, save any fragments if possible.
Rinse the mouth gently with water and apply a cold compress to the face to reduce swelling.
Contact the dentist as soon as possible. Even minor chips should be evaluated, as underlying cracks may not be visible but can lead to problems later.
Knocked-Out (Avulsed) Teeth
A completely knocked-out permanent tooth is a true dental emergency.
Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root. Gently rinse it with milk or saline if dirty, but do not scrub or remove any attached tissue.
If possible, attempt to reinsert the tooth into the socket.
If reinsertion is not possible, specialized tooth-storage solutions are best when available; if not, cold milk is the next best easily available option. Seek emergency dental care immediately. The best outcomes occur when the tooth is reimplanted within 30 minutes.