Patient video
Welcoming and Wonderful Practice
A patient shares the welcoming atmosphere and positive experience they found at our Port Dover office.
★★★★★
Port Dover Family Dentistry
Dental Trauma Treatment in Long Point
Falls, boating bumps and sports collisions can loosen, push or break teeth. Long Point patients should call our Port Dover office promptly after a mouth injury.
New patients welcomeCDCP accepted
Let’s get you smiling
Book an appointment
Tell us how we can help. Our team will follow up to confirm a time.
Caring for Long Point residents, cottagers and visitors at our Port Dover office
Browse every dental service for Long PointAfter an impact
An injured mouth needs a calm check of the whole person first.
Dental trauma includes teeth that are chipped, cracked, loosened, pushed out of position, driven into the gum or knocked out entirely, along with cuts to the lips, tongue and gums. Injuries often happen during sports, falls, cycling or recreation on and around the water. How quickly a tooth is seen can influence its outlook, particularly when it has moved.
If an injury happens at Long Point, check for any head injury or serious bleeding first. Then call our Port Dover office to describe the damage so the team can discuss urgency and arrange an assessment.
First response
Safety first, then the teeth.
Check for medical emergencies
Look for signs of head injury such as confusion, vomiting, drowsiness or loss of consciousness. Heavy bleeding that does not slow with firm pressure, a possible broken jaw or difficulty breathing require emergency medical care. Dental treatment can follow once serious injuries are ruled out or managed.
Protecting injured teeth
Rinse gently with clean water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. If a permanent tooth is knocked out, handle it by the crown, not the root. Keep pieces of broken teeth. If a tooth is displaced, avoid forcing it back unless guided. Call the dental office promptly.
Types of injury
Different injuries need different responses.
Fractures and chips
Chipped or broken teeth range from small enamel fractures to breaks exposing the nerve. A pink or red spot in the break, bleeding from the tooth or sharp pain suggests deeper injury. Smaller chips may be repaired with bonding, while larger breaks may need more extensive treatment.
Displaced and loosened teeth
Teeth can be loosened, pushed backward, pulled partly out or driven into the bone. These injuries affect the ligament and blood supply. Prompt repositioning and stabilization may be needed. The dentist will examine and take X-rays to assess roots and surrounding bone.
Assessment and care
The goal is to protect what can be saved.
Examining all injured areas
The dentist will check each affected tooth, the gums, lips and bite, and take X-rays. Sensitivity tests may be done to evaluate nerves, although results right after injury can be unreliable. Expect questions about how the injury happened, when and whether you lost consciousness.
Stabilizing and restoring
Treatment may include repositioning teeth, splinting loose teeth to neighbours, smoothing or bonding chips and suturing soft tissue. Some injuries need root canal treatment later. The dentist will explain the immediate plan and why follow-up visits are important.
Follow-up
Some effects of trauma appear later.
Watching for delayed changes
Injured teeth may darken, become sensitive or develop infection weeks or months later. Follow-up visits allow the dentist to monitor nerve health and root changes. Report swelling, a gum bump, increasing pain or colour change. Keep the soft diet and cleaning instructions provided after treatment.
Preventing future injuries
Mouthguards reduce risk during contact sports and many recreational activities. Seatbelts, helmets for cycling and caution on docks and wet surfaces also help. If you have had a dental injury before, ask whether additional protection would be wise for your activities.
Planning your appointment
After an injury at Long Point
Once medical emergencies are ruled out, call our Port Dover office at 519-583-2929. Describe the injury, which teeth are affected and when it happened so the team can discuss timing.
Bring any tooth fragments or a knocked-out tooth stored properly, and note details of how the accident happened.
Port Dover Family Dentistry
697 Norfolk County Hwy 6, Unit 2, Port Dover, ON N0A 1N2519-583-2929Directions to our office (opens in a new tab)Office hours & contact detailsBefore you book
Dental injury questions
Have a question about your situation? Our team can help you plan a visit.
What should I do if a tooth is knocked out?
For a permanent tooth, handle it by the crown, rinse briefly if dirty, and try to replace it in the socket or keep it in milk. Contact a dentist immediately. Do not replant a baby tooth.
My tooth looks fine after a fall. Should it be checked?
Yes. Injuries to the root or nerve may not be visible. An exam and X-rays help detect hidden damage, and follow-up can catch changes that appear later.
Why did my injured tooth turn grey?
Discolouration can indicate nerve damage or internal bleeding in the tooth. Contact the office, as it may need monitoring or treatment such as root canal therapy.
How long will my tooth be splinted?
It depends on the injury type. Splints are usually kept for a limited period to allow healing. The dentist will explain the expected duration and how to care for the area.
Do I need to see a doctor too?
Seek medical care for any head injury, loss of consciousness, possible jaw fracture or severe bleeding. Dental treatment can be arranged once those concerns are addressed.
Specific injury guides
Dental Emergencies →Knocked-Out Tooth Treatment →
A knocked-out adult tooth has the best chance when handled well and seen fast. Long Point patients can learn the first steps and call our Port Dover office.
Broken or Chipped Tooth Repair →
Chipped a tooth on a hard snack or during a summer outing? Long Point patients can call our Port Dover office to describe the damage and arrange an assessment.