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By Denise Quinlan
With the return of warm weather comes the return of outdoor sports. This can also mean injuries. Many athletes suffer broken teeth or even have teeth completely knocked out. A mouth guard is a must for anyone involved in contact sports. Many common injuries can be prevented with these simple appliances. Mouth guards are available at the store or can be custom fit by your dentist.
A properly-fitted mouth guard serves as a shock absorber. It can protect teeth from impact with another player or the ground. A mouth guard can also protect the temporomandibular joint — the hinge connecting your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull. It serves as a cushion to reduce trauma and prevent permanent damage. It can also prevent teeth from cutting through the lips, avoiding the need for stitches.
However, not all injuries are preventable; accidents happen. So what do you do? Usually a broken tooth is easily repaired, as long as the break doesn’t reach the nerve of the tooth. Your dentist will take an x-ray to confirm this. If the nerve isn’t exposed, the tooth should be able to be fixed with a filling. If the break does extend into the nerve, the tooth may still be able to be saved with root canal treatment. Having a tooth knocked out is a bigger problem.
If a tooth does come out completely (and is NOT broken), it MAY be able to be put back. Handle the tooth as little as possible. If there is debris on the surface, gently rinse it without rubbing or wiping it. Place it back in its socket and apply gentle pressure. If you can’t or don’t want to put the tooth back, try to have the injured keep the tooth under their tongue. If that’s not possible, place it in milk or a salt-water solution. Either way, call your dentist immediately! The sooner a tooth is put back, the better the chance of it re-attaching. If the tooth cannot be re-implanted, your dentist will discuss options with you.
Taking advantage of the available precautions can help your athlete avoid unnecessary pain and injury. A mouth guard is one of the easiest ways to minimize mouth injuries. Your dentist can provide you with a custom-fit mouth guard and answer any questions you may have.
Denise Quinlan is a registered dental hygienist at Lakes Region Dental Center, 6 Center St., Oakland.
