Erin Mills Smiles Dentistry - Blog

When Athletes Need an Emergency Dentist

Do you remember that heart-stopping moment when a hockey puck flies or an elbow connects with someone's smile? As an emergency dentist at Erin Mills Smiles Dentistry, I've seen hundreds of athletes walk in with dental injuries from their weekend game or competitive match. The terror in their eyes is always the same – will my smile ever be the same again? Here's the good news: with swift action and the right emergency dentist, many sports-related dental injuries can be successfully treated. The secret? Knowing exactly when to make the call and how quickly you need to get to our chair.

Common Sports-Related Dental Injuries

Knocked-Out Teeth

There's no shock quite like the surprise of having a tooth knocked out completely. You have a finite time window – ideally 30-60 minutes – to give the best chance of survival for that tooth. While you hurry to our office:

• Handle the tooth by the crown (not the root).
• Rinse it gently if it's dirty (don't scrub!).
• Place it in milk or your own saliva to keep it moist.
• Call our emergency dentist immediately.

Cracked or Fractured Teeth

That sickening crunch when a baseball bat or basketball court meets a tooth can be anything from a minor chip to a serious fracture. While minor chips might not have you rushing to an emergency dentist, those deeper cracks that cause pain or leave the inner tooth unprotected definitely should. I've seen players try to "tough it out," only to end up with infections that could have been prevented with a timely visit.

Displaced Teeth

Teeth do not always come out entirely but are sometimes forced into painful positions instead. Partially displaced teeth need the attention of an emergency dentist just as much as fully knocked-out teeth. Because such injuries do not appear as dramatic, players sometimes delay treatment—a mistake that can lead to permanent misalignment.

Why Immediate Care Matters

I recall the look of relief on a patient's face when we could reimplant his tooth, which was knocked out in a hockey mishap. He had done everything correctly—called our emergency dentist immediately and stored the tooth properly. Had he delayed another few hours, that tooth would have been lost forever.

Timely intervention by an emergency dentist saves:

• Permanent loss of a tooth.
• Infections from bacteria entering damaged teeth.
• More complex and expensive treatments later.
• Long-term complications like darkened teeth or bite problems.

Prevention Strategies for Athletes

Custom Mouthguards

Both as an emergency dentist and a sports fan, I simply can't stress this enough—get a custom mouthguard! The boil-and-bite models you buy in a store are no substitute. We create mouthguards that fit perfectly, protect totally, and are so comfortable that you'll actually wear them.

Regular Dental Check-ups

Strong, healthy teeth are less likely to be damaged – it's as simple as that. Through regular visits, we can diagnose and fix small problems before they become weak spots that can let you down at your next game. We can also monitor previous injuries to ensure they're healing properly.

What to Do Before Reaching an Emergency Dentist

Those couple of minutes between trauma and getting to an emergency dentist are precious. For bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze. For pain and swelling, use cold compresses on the outside of your cheek. Over-the-counter pain medications can take the edge off, but if there is bleeding, try to steer clear of aspirin.

I remember a parent who arrived with their child's knocked-out tooth in a dry tissue—unfortunately, too late to be salvaged. If you can gently replace the tooth into its socket, that's ideal. If not, milk is an excellent medium for storage until you reach an emergency dentist.

After-Hours Emergency Dental Care

Sports don’t work nine to five, and neither do we! At Erin Mills Smiles Dentistry, we understand that the championship match will be on Sunday afternoon, and that’s always when dental emergencies happen. That’s why we ensure our patients have access to emergency dental services even outside normal hours.

Long-Term Care After Sports Dental Injuries

We don’t stop caring for you there. We’ll develop a personalized follow-up plan that may include additional treatments to fully restore your smile. The most rewarding part of being an emergency dentist is seeing patients back on the field with confident, healthy smiles after we’ve walked them through a dental emergency.

Be Prepared – Save Our Number

When sports dental injuries occur, timing is everything. Knowing when to call an emergency dentist can make all the difference. At Erin Mills Smiles Dentistry, we're not just repairing teeth—we're helping athletes return to the game with smiles and confidence intact.

Save our number now and call us anytime at (905) 608-0077 for immediate emergency dental care.