Sports Dentistry

Dr. Toan Tran is concerned about the health of all the children in his practice. A dental emergency, such as a knocked out or chipped front tooth is more than painful. It is emotionally traumatic for the entire family, and results in the need for urgent dental treatment. Oftentimes, in the case of children, there is need for dental treatments long into the future.

As a sports minded dentist, Dr. Tran is ready to support you if a dental emergency should occur. Call his office number at any hour and you will receive instructions for reaching him.

Dr. Tran also wants to help you avoid dental emergencies. One of the best ways to do this is through a custom made sports mouthguard that fits your child at his or her stage of development. Many parents do not know that a sports mouthguard protects more than the teeth. It also helps absorb the impact of a collision to mitigate injuries to the face, neck, and brain. As your child grows, a new mouthguard should be custom fitted. If your child’s mouthguard becomes ill-fitting or if your child bites through his or her mouthguard, it’s time to come in for a new one.

Custom Sports Mouthguards

Custom sports mouthguards are proven to prevent more facial, dental, head and neck injuries than over-the-counter purchased boil-and-bite mouthguards. This is because they exactly conform to the size and shape of the child’s mouth. Because they are less bulky, your child is more apt to keep it in his or her mouth during sports and not be bothered by bulky discomfort or facial appearance. When compared to the cost of recovering from a facial-dental sports injury, investment in a custom mouthguard is relatively low cost.

Note to Mom and Dad: If you play sports, Dr. Tran can make you a custom made mouthguard, too. This is not just for children. Adults participating in crossfit, contact sports, weight lifting, and so on, can also benefit and enhance their performance while protecting their teeth.

Common Sports Injuries that Result in Dental Emergencies

  • Knocked Out Tooth — Time is the most important factor when trying to save a tooth, so get to your dentist 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, and don’t attempt to clean off any dirt or oral tissue. We will do this in the clinical setting to avoid injuring delicate root tissue.
  • Cracked or Chipped Tooth — If the tooth is painful, the chip may have exposed the pulp of the tooth and you need to be seen by Dr. Tran as fast as possible. We will likely use an X-ray of the tooth to determine the best treatment. Treatment depends on numerous factors which Dr. Tran can diagnose as soon as he sees the tooth.
  • Displaced Tooth — If a tooth is moved due to trauma, see call us to see Dr. Tran as soon as possible. Do not try to move the tooth back on your own.
  • Cut Lip — Apply an ice pack to the outside of the lip to control bleeding. If a tooth has cut all the way through the lip, a trip to the emergency room for stitches is likely the next step. You may call our office to discuss whether Dr. Tran thinks you should go to the emergency room of your local hospital or to an urgent care clinic for stitches. Minor cuts may not need stitching.

If you have a dental emergency, please call our office immediately. If you call after business hours, our on-call staff member will assist you.

Learn More about Sports Mouthguards and Schedule an Appointment by Calling Us Today!

It is important to protect your child if he or she plays sports. If you are a member of our Dental Family, you know how much we care about you. If you are new to the practice and would like to meet us, just give us a call at 813-891-9898. New patients of all ages are welcome here!