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WHAT
TO DO:
TOOTH INJURIES
During
the course of a season, a
student-athlete may suffer an
injury to the mouth
and/or a tooth. How an injured
tooth is treated can make a
significant difference in the
student-athlete's recovery.
AVULSION
(The entire tooth is knocked
out)
1) Avoid
additional trauma to the tooth
while handling. DO NOT handle
the tooth by the root. DO NOT brush
or scrub the tooth. DO NOT
sterilize the tooth.
2) If
debris is on the tooth, gently
rinse it with cold water.
3)
If possible, replace the tooth
in its socket and stabilize it
by gently biting down on a
towel or handkerchief for 10
minutes. Do this only if the
athlete is alert and
conscious.
4) If
you are unable to replace the
tooth in its socket:
Best: Place the tooth in
Hank's Balanced Saline
Solution (Save-A-Tooth
container, EMT Toothsaver or
similar solution).
2nd Best: Place the tooth in
cold milk.
3rd Best: Wrap the tooth
in saline soaked gauze.
4th Best: Place the tooth
under the athlete's tongue. Do
this ONLY if the athlete is
conscious and alert.
5th Best: Place the tooth
in a cup of water.
5)
Time is very important.
Replacement of the tooth
within 30 minutes has the
highest degree of success
rate. TRANSPORT THE ATHLETE TO
A DENTIST IMMEDIATELY.
LUXATION
(The tooth is in the socket,
but in the wrong position)
EXTRUDED TOOTH (Upper
tooth hangs down and/or lower
tooth raised up)
1)
Reposition the tooth in the
socket using firm finger
pressure.
2)
Stabilize the tooth by gently
biting on a towel or
handkerchief.
3)
TRANSPORT TO THE
DENTIST IMMEDIATELY.
LATERAL DISPLACEMENT (The
tooth is pushed back or pulled
forward)
1)
Try to reposition the
tooth using finger pressure.
2)
Athlete may require local
anesthetic to reposition the
tooth. If so, stabilize the
tooth by gently biting on a
towel or handkerchief.
3)
TRANSPORT TO THE
DENTIST IMMEDIATELY.
INTRUDED
TOOTH (The tooth is pushed
into the gum. It looks short)
1)
Do nothing. Avoid any
repositioning of the tooth.
2)
TRANSPORT TO THE DENTIST
IMMEDIATELY.
FRACTURED
(The tooth is broken)
1) If the tooth is
totally broken in half, save
the broken portion and bring
it to the dental office as
described under Avulsion, Item
4. Stabilize the portion of
the tooth left in the mouth by
gently biting on a towel or
handkerchief to control any
bleeding.
2)
Should extreme pain occur,
limit contact with other
teeth, air or tongue. The pulp
nerve may be exposed, which is
extremely painful to the
athlete.
3)
TRANSPORT THE ATHLETE AND THE
TOOTH FRAGMENTS TO THE DENTIST
IMMEDIATELY.
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