Sports dentistry
Sports dentistry - Mouth Guards / Football / sports injuries
Our special sports dentistry unit deals with all aspects of dental trauma, whether it was sporting in origin, an accident, or an assault.
Prevention is better than cure and we supply custom fitted mouth-guards, which have been proven to dramatically reduce the incidence of dental trauma and concussions.
If managed correctly, and in time, dental trauma can be treated to leave minimal long-term effects.
Gum Shields
Patients concerns
A gum shield is a protective appliance or device that is used to cover your teeth and gums during a physical sporting activity. A gum shield is more commonly known as a mouth guard.
Why are Gum Shields important?
Gum shields are important in order to prevent the following:
- Crown fracture – where part of the tooth you can usually see is damaged. This can range from a corner chipping off, to the whole crown being broken away.
- Root fracture – where the underlying foundation is broken.
- Luxation injury – where the whole tooth is moved and the blood supply to the pulp is injured as a consequence.
- Avulsion – where the entire tooth is lost.
- Pulp (nerve) injury – which can also occur after a small knock and months or years later the pulp dies on its own as a result.
- Injury to deciduous teeth, also known as milk teeth. Such injuries can sometimes harm the adult teeth that lie in the gum under the milk tooth.
- Some soft tissue injuries can also be reduced with a gum shield, including lacerations to the lips and gums.
- As well as damage to your own natural tissues, any dental work like crowns, veneers or bridgework, orthodontic treatment is at high risk of dislodgement with trauma.
How to clean a Gum Shield?
A gum shield should be clean straight after use. Using a clean toothbrush and diluted mouthwash and left to dry.
Warm water is not recommended as warm will distort the gum shield material.
Can a Gum Shield break?
Over time, wear and tear can become visible due to the use of the gum shield. The gum shield will require a replacement at this stage.
How to avoid choking on a Gum shield?
Here at Colm Smith Dental, together with our dentists and dental technicians, we tailor the design and fit of each custom-made Gum Shield to suit all patients needs and requirements. This avoids any risk of choking.
How to fix a Gum Shield?
We advise our patients not to attempt to repair their Gum Shield and phone to see a Dentist as soon as an issue arises.
How long does a Gum Shield last?
On average, gum shields should be replaced after 2 years or after extensive dental treatment.
Maintaining long lasting professional relationships with all our patients
The aim of a dental examination is to look for and detect any signs of disease or other problems, so that they can be treated as soon as possible to prevent any potential problems becoming more serious at a later stage.
CONTACT US TODAY
If you are unsure what treatment you may need, please fill out the appointment form with as much information as possible and we will contact you as soon as we can.
We have Dental Clinics in Cootehill in Cavan and also in Monaghan centre.