Dental Emergencies and Oral Sports Injuries

What to Do When Minutes Count

Table of Contents

• Introduction 3

• Is it a Dental Emergency 3

• Dental Emergency Prevention 10

• First Aid for Dental Emergencies 11

• For a tooth that has been knocked out 11

• For a tooth that has been knocked loose 12

• For injured tissue inside your mouth 12

• If you’ve lost a filling 12

• If you lose a crown or cap 13

• If you have or suspect you have an abscess or dental infection 13

• If you have a broken denture, dental plate or partial 14

• If you have a toothache 14

• Relieving Pain 15

• Be Prepared to Answer Questions from Your Emergency Dentist 17

• If you suffer from Dental Phobia 18

• Facts about Sports Injuries 21

• List of Sports that Require Mouthguards 23 • Types of Mouthguards 24 • Nothing Can Substitute for a Professional Opinion… 26

• About Shamblott Family Dentistry 27

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Dental Emergencies and Oral Sports Injuries

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Dental Emergencies and Oral Sports Injuries

Introduction One in four Americans will experience a dental emergency at some point in their lives. Adults and children who participate in sports have a higher risk of dental emergencies and oral injuries. Knowing what to do in the event of an emergency or injury can mean the difference between saving and losing teeth.

Is It a Dental Emergency? It is important to distinguish between a dental emergency and a situation that can wait for a normal dental appointment, as well as to know when it is better to seek medical treatment at a hospital emergency room. Any time you experience tooth, jaw or mouth pain, you should make an appointment to see your dentist. There are two cases aside from the obvious sports or impact injuries where a toothache indicates emergency treatment is warranted.

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Dental Emergencies and Oral Sports Injuries

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First, if the tooth reacts to hot or cold food or drink and the pain lasts for more than a few seconds, make an appointment to see your dentist. .

Many people have sensitive teeth that may react to hot or cold; however, the pain recedes almost immediately. If the pain lingers, you may have a cavity or need a root canal and a crown.

Only your dentist can distinguish between a sensitive tooth and decay or infection, so it is important to make an appointment and have your dentist examine the tooth. Moreover, with the current technology and the right dentist, root canals are virtually painless.

If your tooth aches all the time and the pain keeps you up at night or worsens when you lie down, you should call your dentist immediately. Such pain may be a sign of infection, and dental infections are serious medical emergencies.

Some situations constitute dental emergencies but do not cause pain. A loose tooth, for example, is a dental emergency, yet it may not hurt.

Dental Emergencies and Oral Sports Injuries

The following list presents some of the more common dental emergencies:

• Knocked out tooth

• Mouth sores • Broken denture

or partial • Lost crown or

cap

• Fractured tooth • Toothache • Loose tooth • Lost filling

• Cuts or wounds to oral tissue

• Abscess or dental infection

• Wisdom teeth pain

• Dry socket

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Dental Emergencies and Oral Sports Injuries

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What to Do When Minutes Count

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You should definitely call your dentist for an emergency appointment if one of the following occurs:

• Over the counter medications such as Motrin, Advice or Tylenol (as allowed by your physician) do not relieve your pain. Do not use aspirin as it may increase bleeding.

• After a tooth extraction you experience serious pain on the second or third day after the removal. This may indicate a dry socket. You should see your dentist within 24 hours.

• You experience pain, swelling along your jaw or face, and fever.

Any of these symptoms could indicate an infection of your tooth, gums or jawbone. It could also mean you have an abscess, which may require the use of antibiotics and a drainage procedure. An infection within the tooth requires a root canal or extraction.

• Sports or impact injury that causes a broken or knocked-out tooth. A broken tooth may also occur from eating hard foods or candy. A knocked out tooth must be put back in place with 30-60 minutes if the tooth is to be saved. Your dentist may “splint” the tooth to hold it in place until it has recovered.

Dental Emergencies and Oral Sports Injuries

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What to Do When Minutes Count

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• You’ve lost a filling. It is imperative you get to your dentist as soon as possible as any delay may allow decay to set in.

• Your wisdom teeth are coming in and causing you pain. Sometimes the gum around the erupted crown can become infected. There may also be swelling that prevents the jaw from closing properly. Additionally, there may be pain the in the throat or mouth that makes swallowing difficult.

• If you have trouble swallowing or have excessive pain or bleeding around your gums, this may indicate a serious infection. If you have a weakened immune system, are taking steroid drugs, or have serious diseases such as diabetes, pain, bleeding or signs of gum or tooth infection should be treated immediately.

• Another situation where non-dental conditions can cause tooth pain is in the case of sinus problems. Sinuses clogged from allergies or cold virus can become infected. This can cause them to swell and put pressure on the bone. In turn, this puts pressure on the upper teeth and can make them hurt, be sensitive to hot or cold, and even be painful when simply biting down. You should see your doctor in this case.

Dental Emergencies and Oral Sports Injuries

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When to Go to the Hospital Emergency Room Sometimes the smartest course of action is to seek treatment at the local hospital emergency room. If you swallow a tooth or crown, you should seek medical attention before seeing your dentist. Pain in the jaw after a sports injury, or a potentially broken jaw is also best treated by a physician; go to the nearest hospital emergency room if you think your jaw is broken, then see your dentist.

Pain that begins in the jaw and radiates to the neck or chest may be a sign of a heart attack or serious heart problem. A physician should immediately check any unexplained pain accompanied by shortness of breath, chest tightening or extreme pain in the chest, arms, neck or jaw. Call 911 for emergencies or go to the nearest hospital emergency room for diagnosis and treatment. Be sure to have someone else drive you if you are not feeling well.

Dental Emergencies and Oral Sports Injuries

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Dental Emergency Prevention The good news is that you can prevent dental emergencies. Wearing approved and properly fitted protective gear and a dentist-designed mouthguard prevents many dental emergencies from sports injuries.

Regular dentist checkups and proper dental maintenance is the key to preventing other dental emergencies.

Steps you can take to prevent dental emergencies include:

• Regular dental visits every six months for cleaning and inspection

• Following any treatment recommendations from your dentist

• Brushing and flossing twice a day

• Wearing a custom-designed mouthguard during any vigorous activity including sports and some work situations

• Avoiding hard foods or biting down on hard candy that can crack teeth

Dental Emergency Prevention

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Dental Emergency Prevention

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First Aid for Dental Emergencies For a tooth that has been knocked out:

• Call your dentist for an emergency appointment. Getting to your dentist within 30-60 minutes is paramount to save the tooth.

• Handle your tooth by the crown, not by the root. If you handle the root, you may damage cells necessary for bone re-attachment.

• Carefully rinse your tooth to remove any dirt or foreign objects. DO NOT SCRUB THE TOOTH!

• Once the tooth is clean, place it in your mouth between your lower gum and cheek so it says moist. DO NOT LET YOUR TOOTH DRY OUT!

• If you cannot store the tooth in the injured person’s mouth, wrap the tooth in gauze or a clean, soft cloth and soak in milk or a saline solution.

• If you cannot get to the dentist within 30-60 minutes, insert your tooth back into the socket firmly. Try to place it in its original position. Gently close your jaw to hold the tooth in place. Then get to the dentist as quickly as possible.

*Special Note: if a child’s primary tooth (baby tooth) has been knocked out, do not reinsert the tooth as it may damage the adult tooth that is forming.

Dental Emergency Prevention

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For a tooth that has been knocked loose:

• First, gently push the tooth back into place, but do not force it.

• Gently bite down to keep the tooth in place.

• Your dentist may splint the tooth in place using the two healthy teeth next to it.

• Call your dentist immediately for an emergency appointment.

For injured tissue inside your mouth:

• Injuries include tears, puncture wounds and cuts or lacerations to the cheek, lips or tongue.

• To reduce bleeding from a tongue laceration, move your tongue forward and use gauze to place pressure on the wound.

• Clean the wound immediately with warm water. Call your dentist for an emergency appointment or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

If you’ve lost a filling:

• If you’ve lost a filling, the tooth structure beneath the filling can decay very quickly toward the nerve. If the decay reaches the nerve, a root canal will be necessary.

• If possible, use over-the-counter emergency dental filling material from your drugstore as a temporary seal until you can get to the dentist.

• You should get to your dentist as soon as possible to avoid tooth decay.

Dental Emergency Prevention

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If you lose a crown or cap: • Use a small amount of denture adhesive from the drugstore to

reattach the crown. If this doesn’t work, save the crown in a small bag. Do not leave the crown in your mouth as you may swallow it.

• DO NOT USE SUPERGLUE!

• Call your dentist for an emergency appointment to properly re-cement the crown. If you delay, the tooth may move. If the tooth moves, you may need to have a new crown made.

If you have or suspect you have an abscess or dental infection: • Abscesses are potentially life-threatening infections if they

spread into surrounding tissue. Treatment can range from a root canal for a small abscess to emergency surgery if the abscess spreads to the point where it results in chills, fever, nausea, vomiting, and even difficulty breathing. In this case, call 911 immediately or seek help at the nearest hospital emergency room.

• If you suspect you have an abscess or dental infection, call your

dentist for an emergency appointment.

Dental Emergency Prevention

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If you have a broken denture, dental plate or partial: • Collect all the pieces.

• DO NOT attempt to repair your broken denture with superglue. This often results in an ill-fitting denture that must be replaced.

• Call your dentist for an emergency appointment. If possible, your dentist should attempt to repair the denture before resorting to replacement.

If you have a toothache: • Rinse your mouth with warm water. Place a cold compress or ice

pack against your cheek to reduce swelling. Alternate 20 minutes of cold and 20 minutes of mild heat.

• DO NOT place any kind of pain medication against your gum. This could burn your gum and cause further problems.

• Call your dentist for an emergency appointment.

Relieving Pain

Relieving Pain

There are steps you can take at home that may temporarily relieve the pain until you get to the dentist. While it is important to get to your dentist as soon as possible, you may try the following:

• If you have an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Motrin, Advil, or Tylenol, take it (as allowed by your physician.) DO NOT take aspirin! Do not place any kind of pill against your gum as this may burn your gum and make things worse.

• Over the counter pain relievers only work temporarily. You should still see your dentist. He or she will need to find and treat the underlying cause of pain to relieve it permanently. Remember, any infection can spread and become life threatening if left untreated.

• Rinse your mouth every hour or so with warm salt water, or as needed, to help relieve the pain of an infection or a cavity.

• An ice pack or cold compress may relieve the pain if applied to your cheek over the area that hurts. Only apply cold for a maximum of 20 minutes, then let the area warm up for 20 minutes.

• Do not travel by air. The change in air pressure may make the pain worse.

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Relieving Pain

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Be Prepared to Answer Questions from Your Emergency Dentist… • When you’re suffering from dental pain or impact trauma, the

last thing you want to do is answer questions. However, answering them helps the dentist evaluate the situation and devise the best treatment option.

• Your dentist may ask the following questions:

• How long have you been in pain?

• Which tooth or what area of your mouth is in pain?

• Does hot, cold or pressure make it hurt? Does it keep you from sleeping?

• How painful is it? Is it a sharp or dull pain?

• Have you taken any medication for the pain? What have you take, and how recently?

• Do you have any other symptoms? Fever, swelling, chest pain?

Dental Phobia

Dental Phobia

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If You Suffer from Dental Phobia… If you suffer from dental anxiety, fear or phobia, you're not alone. It is estimated that 30-40 million Americans avoid regular dental care due to some form of fear of the dentist. This fear is often the result of a traumatic experience at the dentist, usually in childhood. However, those who suffer from dental phobia now have options. The best option is to establish a relationship with a dentist who focuses in treating people with dental anxiety. A dentist who will listen to your concerns and work with you to find the right treatment regimen that is specific to your situation can alleviate dental anxiety and fear. Dr. Scott Shamblott of Shamblott Family Dentistry offers a number of treatment options and recommendations to make your visit virtually pain-free. Those recommendations may include: • DVD glasses and headphones so you may listen to your favorite

music or watch your favorite movies during a procedure. • Blankets and a pillow to make you more comfortable. • Various forms of anesthesia ranging from FREE nitrous oxide or

laughing gas to sleep dentistry (IV Sedation administered by a certified registered nurse anesthetist.)

Dental Phobia

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If you believe you may suffer from dental phobia, please download and fill out the Dental Anxiety Questionnaire Dental Concerns Assessment and bring them to your appointment with Dr. Shamblott so you may discuss them.

For more information on dental phobia, download Dr. Shamblott’s eBook Living with Dental Phobia.

Facts about Sports Injuries

Facts about Sports Injuries

Sports injuries are another common cause of dental emergencies. The following facts come from the National Youth Sports Foundation:

• Dental injuries are the most common type of orofacial injury suffered while participating in sports; sadly, the majority of these injuries are preventable.

• An athlete is 60 times more likely to sustain damage to the teeth when not wearing a protective mouthguard.

• The cost of a fractured tooth is up to 10 times greater than the cost of a dentist-diagnosed and designed professionally made mouthguard.

• Every athlete involved in a contact sport has about a 10% chance per season of an orofacial injury.

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Facts about Sports Injuries

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List of Sports that Require Mouthguards The American Dental Association recommends the use of mouthguards when participating in the following sports:

• Handball • Racquetball • Martial Arts • Shot putting • Basketball • Boxing • Wrestling • Skiing

• Acrobatics • Volleyball • Football • Gymnastics • Lacrosse • Weightlifting • Squash • Field Hockey

• Ice hockey • Water Polo • Soccer • Skateboarding • Surfing • Roller/Ice

Hockey • Skydiving • Rugby

* Special note: in football, where mouth guards are always worn, only .07% of injuries involve the mouth or teeth. In basketball, where mouth guards are rarely used, 34% of injuries involve the mouth or teeth.

Facts about Sports Injuries

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Types of Mouthguards There are currently three types of mouthguards available to the general public:

• Stock Mouthguards – these types of mouth guards are sold in most sporting goods stores. They range in price from $3 to $25. Unfortunately, these have no form of retention so they must be clamped in place by the user’s bite, which interferes with speech and breathing. They offer the least protection of the three options.

• Boil and Bite or Mouth-Formed Mouthguards – these are the most commonly used by the general public. They are usually boiled in water until soft and then placed in the mouth and formed. These mouthguards also do not provide adequate protection because they do not cover all the posterior teeth due to the limited sizes and the lack of proper extension. Too often because of their bulk and ill-fitting tendencies, athletes wind up cutting and altering these mouthguards, which further reduces their effectiveness.

Facts about Sports Injuries

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It is also recommended that participants in these sports get an oral examination well before they begin participating so that a current dental baseline may be established. During the oral examination, any potential dental risks may be noted. If you require extractions or treatment, these may be performed well ahead of time so they may heal. This is also the optimal time to establish the specific type and design of mouthguard required.

Facts about Sports Injuries

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Types of Mouthguards Custom-made mouthguards – these mouthguards are designed and supplied by your dentist. The benefits of these mouthguards include:

• They interfere least with speaking

• They have been proven in studies to have almost no effect on breathing

• They can be adapted, upon request, for a helmet strap

• Your dentist takes impressions of your upper and lower teeth and the mouthguard is then fabricated using this model rather than in your mouth

• Custom-made mouthguards offer the highest level of protection because they are custom-fabricated for each user.

Nothing Can Substitute for a Professional Opinion…

It's helpful to learn basic first aid and pain relief options for dental emergencies and sports injuries. However, nothing can substitute for a professional opinion. If you're suffering from painful teeth, infection symptoms, or an injury, please make an appointment with Shamblott Family Dentistry today.

About Shamblott Family Dentistry

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Shamblott Family Dentistry offers a wide range of family dental services in our state of the art practice, but we are especially well known for treating patients' dental phobias and anxiety.

We offer "sleep dentistry" (IV sedation with a certified nurse anesthetist), free "laughing gas" (nitrous oxide), and a wide range of services to make you comfortable during treatment.

Emergency same-day service is available, and new patients also receive a free examination and x-rays.

Make an appointment today. Call (952) 935-5599 or visit Shamblott Family Dentistry.