Sports Dentistry

Sports dentistry involves the prevention and treatment of dental injuries and related oral diseases, as well as the sharing of information and equipment designed to help protect the teeth, mouth, jaw, and face of athletes of all ages. Injuries to the teeth and mouth are common among athletes. It’s important to protect your child’s smile if he or she plays sports, for aesthetic as well as health reasons.

Common Dental Injuries in Sports

Tooth knocked out

• Time is the most important factor when trying to save a tooth, so get to our office as soon as possible. In general, there is a 30-minute window of opportunity to re-implant the tooth in the socket.
• Do not try to re-implant the tooth yourself.
• The best liquid to transport a tooth in is cold milk. If milk is not available, use saliva (if possible), saline, or if nothing else is available, water.
• Don’t let the tooth dry out and don’t wrap it in anything.
• Don’t touch the tooth root if you can avoid it.

Tooth chipped or cracked

• We will likely use an X-ray of the tooth to determine the treatment necessary.
• For a serious chip that exposes the pulp of the tooth, get to our office as soon as possible.
• If a tooth is chipped or cracked, sometimes it can be fixed with a filling or bonding alone.
• Sometimes a tooth is cracked or chipped in a way that affects the nerve inside, and a more complicated treatment may be needed.

Tooth displaced

• If a tooth is moved due to trauma, see Dr. Stefano as soon as possible.
• Do not try to move the tooth back on your own.
• For any mouth discomfort before you get to our office, apply ice.

Preventing Injury

One of the best ways to prevent injury to your child’s teeth and mouth while he or she is playing sports is to have your athlete wear a mouthguard. There are several types of mouthguards to choose from, and we can help you choose the best one for your son or daughter’s particular needs.

Our professionally made sports mouthguards at Stefano Dental provide superior fit and retention compared to boil-and-bite mouthguards. Available in six levels of protection, the mouthguards range from one to three layers of laminated ethylvinylacetate material with a final thickness between 3mm and 5mm. Our professionally made athletic mouthguards can be customized with stickers and team logos and are available in a variety of colors to fit the personality of every star athlete in your family!