Sports Dentistry is a vital element of player safety and health. The Houston Medical Center Dental Group works in Partnership with Rice University to meet the dental needs of all the players on the Rice Football Team. We provide the full range of sports dental services to ensure the maximum possible safety of each player, thereby improving team spirit and furthering the pursuit of excellence and accomplishment.Rice University is located only a few steps from our office.

Consequently, we provide them with all sports dentistry services pertinent to the needs of their athletes. In particular, we make custom, protective mouthguards for football players. However, there are many other components to sports dentistry that we also provide to people associated with Rice Athletics.

One of the most important elements of our sports dentistry program is the effective management of emergency situations.

One story in particular comes to mind in regards to how vital this service is.

One afternoon 8 years ago, we received a contact from the trainer at Rice University. He explained that he would be brining one of the cheerleaders to our office for a dental emergency. This young lady was a “flyer” in their gymnastics routines. During the course of a practice session, she took a hard fall to the ground and knocked out several of her teeth.

In these situations, in order for emergency sports dentistry treatment to have any chance of saving the teeth, we have to see to it that several critical things are done:

• The teeth need to be kept clean and moist. This can be done by the patient holding them in his or her mouth, or it can be done by immersing the teeth in a sanitary container filled with a saline water solution.
• If teeth are exposed to open air out of the mouth for more than 30 minutes, the chances of re-implanting them slip away quickly
• In most cases, immediate root canal procedures have to be performed.
• After this, the teeth must be re-implanted and stabilized.

The cheerleader who came to us had a total of five front teeth knocked out. Some were upper teeth, and some were lower teeth. The trainer had been informed to keep the teeth moist and clean as noted above. We were able to get these back into her mouth before that critical 30 minutes was up.

Over the course of the next year, the management of these teeth was very successful overall. Only one was lost, and it was replaced by a dental implant.

Over the past 8 years later, the remaining four teeth have remained viable and stable. This lady is still a patient of ours since her graduation because of the treatment she received under our sports dentistry relationship with Rice University.

These same services are available to other universities, colleges, and school districts interested in protecting the safety and maximizing the performance of their athletes.

Labels: dental emergency service, emergency sports dentistry, re-implanting teeth, sports dentistry

My son had one of his front permanent teeth knocked out in baseball practice.
If at all possible, get to the office of a Houston dentist within one hour of the accident. If you wait longer than one hour, the chances of the tooth being successfully re-implanted are slim. If you have time before you leave the house, have him rinse his mouth in cool water. Do not wipe it or scrub it.

While calling the dental emergency line, place the tooth in a glass of water, or even better, milk if you have any. While on the way to the office of your Houston dentist, bring it wrapped it in a clean, damp cloth.

Please be aware that teeth like this that have been knocked out have to be treated with a root canal. However, the tooth itself will survive for years if it is re-implanted one hour after the injury.

My daughter slammed her front baby tooth on the floor and now it's dark. Is it dead?
It may very well be, but we can’t be sure until you bring her in. The dark color is an indicator that the blow has broken a blood vessel at the tip of the tooth root. However, do not despair or assume the worst just yet. Baby teeth are very tough, and they can withstand impacts that almost always kill adult teeth.

Nevertheless, consider this a true dental emergency and get your daughter to a Houston dentist ASAP for an examination.

How long will it take to fix my son’s tooth that he chipped?
If you are can find the fragment, bring it with you to the office. There are times when a cosmetic dentist can bond the fragment back onto the tooth. Even without the fragment, though, a skilled cosmetic dentist can restore the natural look and shape of the tooth in less than one hour.

What should I do if my child has a toothache?
Call your Houston dentist immediately. It is a good idea to rinse your child’s mouth with lukewarm water and applying cloth-wrapped ice to the face. We do not recommend that you use any warm water or apply any form of heat.

NEVER PUT AN ASPIRIN ON THE TOOTH OR GUMS. ASPIRIN IS ACIDIC AND CAN BURN THE SKIN. ONLY SWALLOW ASPIRING, NEVER USE IT FOR TOPICAL CARE.

How do I keep dental emergencies from happening in the first place?
For toddlers, child proof the house. Pad sharp corners, handles on furniture, and door knobs that stick out. Lock the doors to the rooms with this furniture. Make sure you secure your child in his or her safety seat when you drive, and always double check the strap on the stroller when you put your child in it.

Mouthguards will often prevent dental emergencies in older children. Most dental injuries happen at or near the home, not on the sports court or athletic court, so have your child wear his or her mouthguard even when playing at home.

Labels: cracked tooth syndrom, dental emergency service, mouthguard

A female patient of 80 years of age, with right hemiparalysis, is taking the following medicines:
perindopril- 4 mg once
daili,simvastatin - 10 mg once daily
clopidogrel- 75 mg once daily,

She has developed swelling on lower left side of face involving left side of lower lip and severe pain on eating. Upon intra oral examination, tooth number 20 is fonud carious with severe pain on pucussion in it. What should be done for immediate treatment?
_________________________________________________

This lady should seek immediate emergency care. With her medical condition in conjunction with her acute infection (swelling), I would recommend that she see an oral surgeon immediately.

Give Dr Terry Taylor a call – 6th floor Scurlock Tower – 713-790-1995


We will be happy to help with her aftercare and general dental needs.


Dale Brant, DDS

Chuck Campbell, DDS

713-795-5905

Labels: dental emergency service, emergency care