Riverside CA Dentists Give Advice for Dealing with Broken Teeth

Fall is an exciting time for sports. If you are a football fan, you may enjoy going to local high school and college games. Perhaps you’re a parent cheering your own offspring on. Or maybe you play in an amateur league for fun and fitness. Sport like football are terrific, but they can be dangerous. Any high impact sport carries a higher risk for dental injury. Your Riverside, CA dentists at Riverside Dental Group can help if you are a budding athlete that ends up with a chipped, broken, or otherwise injured tooth.

Tooth Fracture Fundamentals

A tooth fracture can be completely shallow and in no need of treatment, or it can be so severe that you need to see your dentist to repair the damage. When the outer layers of your tooth are severely compromised by a hard impact, you might be opening your teeth up to decay. Some dental fractures require a splint. This acts in a similar way to a cast on a broken bone, protecting your tooth, and setting it up for proper healing. If your fracture is merely cosmetic, dental bonding might be a sufficient fix.

Handling Broken and Dislodged Teeth

If your injury is so severe that your roots are severed, you may end up needing to deal with replacing the tooth after your tissues heal. In some cases, though, you’ll probably be surprised to know that even when a tooth is broken, or completely knocked out, it can sometimes be implanted back into its socket. Time is of the essence in these cases, however. You should try to make it to your dentist within an hour. It’s important that the tooth doesn’t dry out, so soak the whole tooth (or broken pieces) in milk or Gatorade on your way to the dentist. When it comes to handling your displaced tooth, you always want to avoid touching the roots or any attached tissues, and pick it up gingerly by the crown (top).

Athletic Mouthguards from Riverside Dentists

We can help fit you with a customized mouthguard to protect your teeth while you play sports. To schedule a consultation, call our 92504 dentist office at (951) 689-5031 for all of your dental care needs.