Baby Teeth: 6 months to 5-6 years

1. Do NOT try to put a baby tooth back in the socket.
2. Seek dental treatment as soon as possible to check socket and assess other injuries. Remember to take the tooth with you to confirm it is a baby tooth. If in doubt transport the tooth in milk or saliva.
3. Occasionally a tooth may seem knocked out but it is actually intruded (pushed all the way in). If this is the case the tooth will usually re-erupt on its own. The dentist may decide to take an xray to check its proximity to the developing permanent teeth.

Permanent Teeth: 6-7 years and older

1. Try not to touch the tooth by the root, only pick it up by the crown.
2. If the tooth is very dirty wash it in milk or saliva. If no milk is available use water but for no more than a few seconds.
3. Push the tooth back into the socket taking care if it is a front tooth that the flatter surface faces the front.
4. Seek dental treatment very soon. If you cannot re-implant the tooth, transport in milk or saliva (in the child's cheek if they are not too stressed). Time is crucial.

Sometimes the trauma is enough to push the tooth out of its regular position, this is usually backwards. If you cannot immediately push the tooth into the correct spot seek dental treatment as soon as possible as the dentist may, under local anaesthesia, reposition the tooth and place a splint to hold it in place until it heals.

If the blow has caused a fracture of the crown, seek dental treatment as soon as possible. If it is found bring the fragment to the dentist as soon as possible in milk, as it can often be re-bonded to the tooth.

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It is crucial that all patients participating in contact (and some "non-contact" sports) wear a dentally fitted mouthguard. A mouthguard is a protective device for the mouth that covers the teeth and gums to reduce injury to the teeth, arches, lips and gums.

A poorly fitted "boil and bite" mouthguard does not provide the level of protection you and your kid's teeth deserve!

A recent study into dental trauma from sport showed the top four sports are:

• swimming (who would have thought!!!)
• football (AFL)
• basketball
• soccer.

Football: It is common practice to see children wearing mouthguards in footy. As a mum and a dentist on the sidelines, I can tell which kids have the store bought mouthguards as they always take them out on the field. The fit is poor and kids have trouble breathing and often need to clamp their teeth together to hold them in.

Basketball and soccer: These so-called “non-contact” sports have plenty of contact. We see a number of injuries a year from accidental elbows, knees etc. Mouthguards should definitely be worn – we need to change the culture that “no-one else wears one so I won't”.

Here at Roslyn 38 Exceptional Dentistry we are firm believers in the value of mouthguards. We believe clear mouthguards are best to enable viewing through it in the event of a major injury. We offer a free leather footy for all full priced mouthguards to encourage wearers!! Make an appointment today to have an impression and upon fitting, receive your free footy!

 

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