First Aid for Sports-Related Dental Injuries

Abstract

In brief: Sports-related dental injuries, though decreasing in number, are common, particularly in those sports that do not require mouth protection. High-quality first aid for the injured athlete is critical in preventing the loss of permanent teeth, especially when they are displaced from their normal position or knocked out of the mouth. These teeth must be repositioned or reimplanted within an hour after injury to prevent loss from root resorption or dental ankylosis. Locating the source of associated bleeding and using a simple finger-pressure test can help persons at the scene determine how serious the injury is and whether the athlete needs immediate dental attention.