A stick, a ball or a teammate’s elbow, and now there’s a chipped or loosened tooth. Call us with your child’s age and what happened on the field so we can discuss availability. A head knock or heavy bleeding needs emergency care first.
Look past the tooth for a moment. A collision that damages teeth can also injure the head or neck. If your child is confused, was knocked out even briefly, is vomiting, has trouble breathing or swallowing, or is bleeding heavily, call 911 or get emergency medical care. The dental side can wait until they have been checked.
With no warning signs, a broken, loosened or missing tooth still needs a dental professional soon. From Meadowvale, Churchill Meadows or anywhere else in Mississauga, you can ring us at (905) 876-4488. Tell us your child’s age, what hit them and how they are now, and the team will discuss availability. If we can’t see them urgently, head to another emergency dental provider.
Coaches and parents often ask which tooth it is. You don’t need to know. Describe the impact, whether a tooth is gone or sitting at a new angle, and whether pain, bleeding or swelling is building. Keep your child sitting out and supervised, and stop teammates from wiggling the tooth to check. The first visit is for assessment; repairs may come later.
Tell us what you can see from the sideline. Don’t hold off calling to snap the perfect photo or to argue over which tooth was hit.
If a permanent tooth comes out, dental care is needed immediately. If it’s a baby tooth, never push it back in. Note the time of the hit and whether the tooth was found. Teeth jammed upward or pushed out of line need a prompt look as well, and shouldn’t be forced back.
Some injuries show up later. Report swelling, fever, pain that interferes with eating or sleep, and whether your child seems unwell. Where the swelling is and how quickly it grows both count. Fast-spreading facial swelling or trouble swallowing or breathing calls for emergency medical care.
Say whether the tooth broke in the collision and whether the lips, tongue or gums are cut. Gather any fragment you can find safely and bring it with you. Bleeding that won’t stop with firm pressure, or concern about a more serious injury, needs urgent medical attention.
Please don’t use the online booking form, email or callback request for an injury that just happened; those aren’t monitored for emergencies. Phone instead, and call 911 or go to emergency care if symptoms are serious.
After a sports injury, the dentist’s first job is to see what has been damaged, take care of anything that can’t wait, and explain the plan. That may mean examining and steadying a loosened tooth today and leaving a final repair for another appointment. Ask what has been confirmed and what is still unknown.
How an injured tooth recovers can’t be predicted from a phone description or a web page. It depends on the tooth, the force of the hit, the time since it happened and what the dentist finds. Getting seen promptly means options can be assessed and discussed without wasted time.
Contact sports can cause injuries beyond the mouth. Mention any head knock, blackout, vomiting or other worrying signs. A medical check may need to happen first, with dental care arranged afterwards depending on how your child is.
You need practical steps; your child may mostly want to know when they can play again. Share what they’re nervous about and how they usually let you know something hurts. Ask what can be done today and what will make them comfortable.
A tooth that feels fine can still need monitoring. Ask when it should be reviewed, whether a repair or referral is outstanding, and when it’s safe to return to sport. Share the contact details with anyone who drives your child to games.
How fast things move depends on the symptoms. A time-sensitive injury shouldn’t wait while someone fills out a routine form.
Give your child’s age, when the injury happened and what struck them. Mention swelling, bleeding, missing or broken teeth, pain and any medical conditions. If you can’t tell whether a tooth is a baby tooth, say so plainly.
Ask what is available and whether the injury needs a different provider or an emergency department. Follow the advice given. If your child gets worse on the way or while waiting, phone again so the plan can be reconsidered.
The dentist checks the injured teeth, lips and gums and may recommend records or tests. Mention any first aid given on the sideline and any medicine taken. Ask what the findings mean and whether more than one tooth was affected.
Go over the treatment provided, its limits, and any further visits or referrals. Confirm advice on food, cleaning, medicine and symptoms to report. Before leaving, ask who to contact if something changes after hours, and when sport can resume.
Personal advice from the dentist treating your child comes first. Use these notes alongside urgent care, never instead of it, when an adult tooth is out or symptoms are serious.
Pick it up by the crown, the chewing end, and don’t touch the root. Rinse off dirt with milk or saline, gently and without scrubbing. If the tooth is clearly permanent and your child is alert and cooperative, ease it back into the socket without force. Otherwise put it in milk and get to a dentist right away. Baby teeth are never replanted.
A wrapped cold pack on the outside of the face can ease a minor knock, if advised. Never press aspirin, glue or a sharp object against a tooth or gum. Ask a pharmacist or clinician about pain relief, and give the dose suited to your child’s age and weight.
Follow the dentist’s instructions on brushing, eating and any splint or temporary repair. If freezing was used, watch that your child doesn’t bite a numb lip. Call if pain or swelling increases, a splint loosens, or healing isn’t going as expected.
Patient information: American Academy of Pediatrics — first aid for a knocked-out permanent tooth
Phone us when it’s urgent. Use these answers to get ready; they can’t diagnose your child or secure an appointment.
Phone (905) 876-4488 to describe what happened, and our team can talk about availability during clinic hours. If we can’t provide urgent care, try another emergency dental provider. Concussion signs, breathing trouble or heavy bleeding call for emergency medical services.
Online requests are meant for non-urgent follow-up. Call about urgent dental injuries, and use 911 or an emergency department for serious symptoms.
