YOUR EMERGENCY DENTIST IN RICHARDSON SAYS MOUTHGUARDS PREVENT THIS

Nothing beats the proud feeling you have as a parent when watching your child participate in sports. Your emergency dentist in Richardson says that in the midst of offering encouragement and cheering on your child, though, there are some steps that should be taken to protect his or her teeth and soft tissue from sudden trauma. Learn about a simple yet effective way to go about this as you continue reading.

Whether your child is involved in football or field hockey, there is always a chance of a sudden collision and trauma to the face. If there is no protection worn, then your child is left vulnerable to the following types of injuries:

• Laceration – A blow to the face can cause a laceration of the soft tissue (gums, lips, tongue, cheeks), which can then lead to excessive bleeding.
• Broken Jaw – The jaw is left more susceptible to breaking from blunt trauma when there is no oral protection worn.
• Cracked or Dislodged Tooth – Another problem that can emerge from sudden impact to an unprotected mouth is a cracked or lost tooth.

The above scenarios are considered to be dental emergencies that require immediate attention. Thankfully, there is a simple way to protect your child.

While there is little that can be done to prevent trauma to the face, there is a way to lessen the chances of a serious injury. With a custom mouthguard from your dentist, much of the force from direct impact can be absorbed.

To understand how this works, think of the bumper on your car as equivalent to the mouthguard while you and your passengers represent the teeth. In the unfortunate situation of an auto accident, the bumper helps to absorb the force and redirect it away from the inside of the vehicle. A similar effect is achieved with a custom mouthguard, as it cushions the teeth and helps to divert the energy away from them.

The biggest difference between a custom mouthguard from your dentist and a generic alternative is that the former is designed to perfectly fit the shape and size of your child’s mouth. This feature plays a significant part in preventing injury because it lessens the chances of sliding and moving when worn.

Thus, if there is impact, it will remain in place and provide the maximum protection possible. So to have more peace-of-mind and feel confident that your child is protected, reach out to your dentist in Richardson to schedule a visit today.

About the Author

Dr. David Nguyen earned his dental degree from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and then went on to continue his postgraduate training at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, where he received advanced tutelage in several modalities. Dr. Nguyen helps to protect children from dental injuries by providing custom mouthguards at Dental Care Today, and he can be reached for more information through his website.