How To Avoid Orthodontic Emergencies During Youth Sports Season

How To Avoid Orthodontic Emergencies During Youth Sports Season

Youth sports season is an exciting and busy time for your child. It’s also a busy time for dentists and doctors due to the number of injuries that occur during the season. Many of these are injuries to the mouth and jaw. Fractured and knocked-out teeth aren’t uncommon, especially in contact sports.

Orthodontic work adds another layer of complexity to playing sports because orthodontic appliances can be broken or damaged during play. Orthodontic emergencies happen quite often, and we frequently have parents asking us how to avoid them. 

We put together this short guide to the most common questions we get. As always, please call us here at our Carson office if you have a question that’s not addressed.

Is It Safe to Play Sports While Undergoing Orthodontic Treatment?

Nothing is without risk, and this includes letting your child play sports. If your child plays any sort of sport, but particularly any form of contact sport, there is a risk that he or she will get injured. Undergoing orthodontic treatment during sports season doesn’t raise the risk of your child being injured, but it would complicate any injury to the mouth and jaw. 

What Can I Do to Reduce My Child’s Risk of Dental Injuries During Youth Sports Season?

The most important step you can take to reduce your child’s risk of incurring a dental injury while playing sports is to make him or her wear a mouthguard. Mouthguards cushion blows to the face and reduce the chance of injury to the jaws and teeth. Athletes are 60 times less likely to experience a dental injury while wearing a mouthguard!

Most sports don’t require players to wear mouthguards, particularly low contact sports. We recommend that children who play any sport that might involve contact wear a mouthguard even if it’s not required. This is true even for children who aren’t undergoing orthodontic treatment, but it’s especially important for those who are.

What’s an Orthodontic Mouthguard?

An orthodontic mouthguard is designed specifically for someone with braces to wear while playing sports. It fits over the orthodontic appliances and helps protect them as well as the rest of the mouth. Sometimes you can use a commercial, or stock, mouthguard but it’s a better idea to get a custom-made orthodontic mouthguard for your athlete.

What Are the Benefits of a Custom-Made Orthodontic Mouthguard?

These mouthguards are created specifically for the individual who will wear them. The provider takes an impression of the child’s mouth and uses it to create a mouthguard that will be a perfect fit. A custom-made mouthguard provides much better protection than a stock mouthguard.

How Do I Get a Custom-Made Orthodontic Mouthguard for My Child?

The next time you bring your child into the Carson office for a checkup, let your provider know he or she will be playing sports and we’ll be happy to create a custom orthodontic mouthguard to protect your child. If your child joins a team between appointments, call us and we’ll get you in for an appointment specifically to get a mouthguard.

Remember, when it comes to injuries, prevention is better than any cure!

How Do You Care for an Orthodontic Mouthguard?

Rinse the mouthguard and clean it with a toothbrush and toothpaste after using it. Occasionally clean it with dish soap and lukewarm water. Dry it well and store it in a hard case that has vents for drying and ventilation. 

Never leave it in the sun or use hot water to clean it. When it shows signs of wear or starts to distort, discard it, and get a new one.

What Should I Do if My Child Has an Orthodontic Emergency During Youth Sports Season?

Take care of any dental injuries first. If a tooth is loose or knocked out, call the Carson office right away to see if the tooth can be saved. If there is any chance of a broken jaw or excessive bleeding, go straight to the nearest emergency room.

Once any dental injuries are dealt with, you can turn your attention to dealing with the orthodontic issues. Broken wires or orthodontic appliances need to be dealt with by your child’s orthodontist as soon as possible. Call us to get an appointment.

If your child was wearing a stock mouthguard when the accident occurred, throw it away and get a new one. If he or she was wearing a custom-made mouthguard, bring it to the Carson office for inspection.

How Much Does It Cost to Get an Orthodontic Mouthguard or Treat Orthodontic Emergencies?

The cost of an orthodontic mouthguard will vary depending on whether you buy a stock mouthguard or get a custom-made one created for your child. It will also vary depending on how much of the cost your dental insurance will cover. Companies offer varying levels of coverage for all orthodontic treatments.

The cost of treating an orthodontic emergency will always be higher than the cost of a mouthguard, even a custom-made one! How much it will cost to treat such an emergency depends on the type of emergency, if there is a dental injury involved as well, and what your insurance will cover.

Please call our office if you have any specific questions about getting a custom-made mouthguard for your child or treating a specific injury. Our staff will create a detailed financial estimate for you using your dental insurance policy. We also offer financing options and will be happy to discuss them with you if you would like to know more.

Are You Ready for Orthodontics?

We treat both children and adults at Orthodontics of Carson. We offer both traditional metal braces and newer options such as Invisalign® clear aligners. Our skilled and experienced providers can take care of all your orthodontic needs. We also offer flexible appointments to fit into your busy life.

Give Orthodontics of Carson a call today at (424) 391-8941 and schedule an appointment for an orthodontics consultation.