A stick, a ball or a teammate’s head can catch a young athlete’s teeth. If your Burlington family is dealing with a sports injury to the mouth, call us to talk it through, have the tooth assessed and plan a safe return to play.
Coaches and parents at practice usually spot a mouth injury quickly; the harder part is knowing what to do in the next few minutes. Bring your child off the field or rink and look for signs of a wider injury. A hard hit to the head or face, breathing or swallowing problems, or bleeding that pressure won’t stop means emergency medical care is the priority.
When the dental injury is the main concern, call a dental office and describe the play, the contact and the time. A permanent tooth knocked out during a game needs help immediately, while a baby tooth that comes out is never reinserted. Families travelling from Burlington can phone us about availability, and another emergency dental provider is the right choice if we cannot offer urgent care.
Getting back in the game is not the only goal. The dentist examines the tooth, the gum and bone, and how mature the tooth is, then explains immediate care and follow-up. Some complications surface later, so ask what will be monitored after the season moves on.
Whether it was a stick, a puck, a ball or a fall, the type of contact matters. Avoid moving the tooth around or having your child bite to see if it still hurts.
Describe how big the broken area looks and whether the tooth reacts to cold air or drinks. If a teammate or coach finds the fragment, keep it moist in milk or water and bring it. Avoid filing the edge or reattaching it at home.
Report any tooth that looks pushed in, pushed out, tilted or crooked, and any sense that the bite has changed. These injuries need a prompt examination. Do not try to press the tooth into place, even if your child is eager to keep playing.
Mention a split lip, bleeding gums, swelling and any tooth or piece that is unaccounted for. Tell us about concussion-type symptoms or other injuries from the same play. The clinician needs this to decide what to examine and whether medical care is also needed.
A knocked-out adult tooth calls for immediate first aid and dental care. Pick it up by the crown, keep it in milk if it can’t be replanted safely, and never let a young child carry it in their cheek.
The energy of a sports hit can travel into the root, the pulp and the ligament that holds a tooth in place. A careful examination looks at each of these where it is relevant. Fixing the chip may restore the smile in team photos without confirming that the inside of the tooth is recovering.
Young athletes are often still growing new adult teeth, and that stage of development affects the plan. A baby tooth and a recently erupted permanent tooth are managed differently. Ask which tooth was hurt, what has been confirmed and what remains uncertain.
Patient information: IADT and AAPD — fractures and luxations of permanent teeth
Depending on the examination, care can mean watching the tooth, repairing it, splinting it or other steps. Ask what each measure achieves. A bonded repair might restore the shape while another part of the injury still needs a plan.
Records from the first visit give later reviews something to compare. Tell the dentist about earlier knocks, which are common in contact sports. Ask what will be reviewed next time and what changes would prompt further care.
Not every result can be predicted early. Ask which signs are encouraging and which complications are being watched for. Clear follow-up advice is more useful than a guarantee that the tooth will never need more treatment.
The pace depends on the injury. For a fresh one, phone us instead of sending an ordinary online booking request.
Share when it happened, the sport, what hit the mouth, any first aid on the sidelines and whether a doctor has been seen. Note missing teeth or fragments and any change to the bite. Bring your child’s health information and a list of medicines given.
The dentist examines the teeth and soft tissue and discusses suitable imaging or tests. Teeth on either side, or in the opposite jaw, may need a look. Ask what can be confirmed now and whether some tests may need repeating as the tooth recovers.
Care may involve a repair, a splint, pulp care, observation or another option. Let the team know how your child handles appointments and what helps them relax. If a referral is suggested, ask what it is for and how soon it is needed.
Confirm what was done, any limits on food, cleaning and activity, and when to come back. Ask which symptoms mean calling sooner. Follow-up may continue after the tooth looks and feels normal again.
Your aftercare depends on the injury and treatment. A small repair may come with lighter advice than a displaced, splinted or replanted tooth.
Ask which foods, chewing habits or snacks to avoid, and for how long. Clean the area as demonstrated, even when it’s sore. If a splint makes brushing tricky, call us for practical tips rather than giving up on it.
Call if pain worsens, swelling develops, a bump appears on the gum, the bite changes or the tooth darkens. A colour change alone does not decide the outcome; it is read alongside symptoms, the examination and the injury type.
Ask when your child can return to practice, games or contact drills, and whether a mouthguard is recommended for their sport. If they already wear one, check that it still fits after treatment. A guard lowers risk but cannot rule out another injury.
Patient information: IADT — broken teeth and preserving a fragment
Jot down what you want to know about the hit, the fix and the weeks ahead. Some answers depend on how the tooth responds over the coming weeks and months.
Call our Bronte Street practice after a dental injury so we can go over availability and the right next step. For a recent urgent injury, use an available emergency dental provider if we cannot see your child.
If an adult tooth is knocked out, seek care immediately. Serious head injury, trouble breathing or swallowing, or heavy bleeding that won’t stop requires emergency medical attention.
