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Sports Dentistry · 

Sports Dentistry · 

Sports Dentistry · 

Sports Dentistry · 

Sports Dentistry · 

Welcome to the world of Sports Dentistry, where oral well-being meets athletic excitement! As parents, we cheer from the sidelines, celebrating every goal, touchdown and achievement but also hope our kids can avoid falls, bumps and bruises. Protective gear is essential for promoting an atmosphere of athletic well-being. When kids feel safe, they can play with confidence. When parents know that their precious athlete is safeguarded, they can relax and focus on enjoying their child’s sports experience.

According to the World Dental Federation (FDI), Sports medicine contributes to healthier athletes and better performance. The FDI recognizes Sports Dentistry as a key element of Sports Medicine and supports its role in the prevention and management of sports-related orofacial injuries and associated oral diseases. Smiles promotes athletic safety and encourages coaches to consider mouthguards a team requirement to protect the health of all athletes.

Sports Dentistry and Dental Health:

Studies have demonstrated the link between dental health and athletic performance. Young athletes who are dealing with dental challenges are fatigued and have slower recovery time. Dental well-being isn’t just about a beautiful smile. It is about keeping our young athletes at their very best and about protecting their growing smiles.

The International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) and the Academy for Sports Dentistry (ASD) recently issued a series of guidelines for prevention of traumatic dental injuries in youth sports. These guidelines highlight the key role that dental professionals can play in dental trauma prevention in terms of offering guidance on safety measures and providing skilled emergency care when needed. They also outline the criteria for ideal, custom mouthguard fabrication in terms of design and function.

If an athlete is involved in dental trauma, it is important to educate them and their family about taking some time off to allow proper healing, to advise on the need for future protection of any vulnerable teeth and to clarify the time when sports participation can be resumed.

Protecting Growing Smiles:

At Smiles, we are dedicated to honoring dental health. Injuries like tooth fractures, avulsions, maxillofacial injuries and even concussions are preventable with the use of a powerful game-changer: a custom fitted mouthguard. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), athletes are 60 times more likely to experience dental injuries when not wearing a protective mouthguard.

We support the use of dental protection whether the type of mouthguard is a stock, boil-and-bite, custom fitted or instrumented mouthguard. Athletes play best when they are comfortable and able to communicate clearly. An adapted mouthguard that does not fall out or move around in the athlete’s mouth is ideal. Instrumented mouthguards such as the Orb system are equipped with sensors that track an athletes performance and have been shown to improve athletic endurance.

A healthy team is a strong team! When the entire team wears their mouthguards, it becomes a routine that everyone can follow. Our in-house mouthguards are 3D printed using the latest dental printing technologies. They are designed, fabricated and reproduced digitally using a digital impression (an oral scan).

Partnering for Smiles:

At Smiles, we are your team’s biggest fans! We are here to support healthy, safe and confident athletes. From Custom fit mouthguard to emergency dental care, we are ready to support your young athlete play in joy and comfort. We are also committed to educating our athletes, their parents and coaches on the topic of Sports Dentistry to ensure that everyone understands its importance and relevance in today’s world. We are available to partner with teams to help promote the benefits of mouthguards and have sponsored several of our Smiles Champion’s teams over the years. Our team continues to collaborate with youth athletes to foster dental wellness.

Conner, an athlete who plays baseball, shares why he loves to keep coming back to Smiles.

The Smiles Tips for athlete dental well-being:

Hover or tap to reveal steps

1
Schedule regular dental well-being check ups.

 

2
Outfit your young athlete with a comfortable custom mouthguard that is checked for its fit at routine dental visits.

 

 

3
Teach proper mouthguard care: Clean, store in its case, maintain.

 

 

4
Safety first: Review safety practices and protective gear wear.

 

 

 

5
Be ready if bumps and falls occur: Have a first aid kit near by to address minor issues.

 

 

6
Have a game plan in case of a dental bump: Collaborate with your team on how to handle emergencies and keep our office info handy!

1
Schedule regular dental well-being check ups.

 

2
Outfit your young athlete with a comfortable custom mouthguard that is checked for its fit at routine dental visits.

 

 

3
Teach proper mouthguard care: Clean, store in its case, maintain.

 

 

4
Safety first: Review safety practices and protective gear wear.

 

 

 

5
Be ready if bumps and falls occur: Have a first aid kit near by to address minor issues.

 

 

6
Have a game plan in case of a dental bump: Collaborate with your team on how to handle emergencies and keep our office info handy!

FAQ for Sports Dentistry:

How is a custom mouthguard made for my child?

The process of creating a custom mouthguard starts with a digital impression (an oral scan) of your child’s mouth. This is a comfortable experience that takes less than five minutes to complete. Once we have the digital data, we can begin designing the appliance in our CAD/CAM suite. We use more than one dental software to create the best fit for your child’s guard. We will then 3D print the appliance using our digital printing units or thermoform it over a 3D printed model of your child’s teeth.

How long with a custom mouthguard last?

Young athlete and their dentition are actively growing. Custom mouthguards need to be checked at every six month visit to ensure proper fit and function. If the fit has been altered, the mouthguard will need replacing. However, the process of doing so is streamlined and simple.

What is the mouthguard made out of?

The mouthguard is made out of an FDA approved resin that is fully cured outside of the mouth. Our SprintRay printing units are highly accurate and precise. Their ecosystem of compatible resins and curing units make the fabrication process a breeze.

Will you still check my child’s boil-and-bite mouthguard?

Our mission is to keep our young athletes safe! We are more than happy to check any mouthguard that your child is willing to wear.

What should I do if my child gets a tooth bumped on the field?

It is a great idea to have a prepared first aid kit at sporting events. These kits can be stocked with instant icepacks, gauze, wraps and bandaids for quick access. Use a clean wet cloth to stop any bleeding and assess the area. Check for loose teeth, displaced teeth and check to see if you can find the pieces of any fractured teeth in the area. These can be bonded back on, so please keep them! Place an instant ice pack on any soft tissues that are starting to swell and call our office to arrange follow up.

What should I do if my child’s baby tooth get knocked out?

Account for the knocked out baby tooth and keep it so that we can examine it. Knocked out baby teeth are not typically replanted as the body tends to consider them foreign objects and will expel them over time. Depending on the development of the replacement, permanent tooth, restorative solutions can be offered if they are needed. Most kids playing sports are in the mixed dentition phase and their primary teeth are actively being switched out for permanent ones. If you suspect any head trauma or your child feels unwell, head to the nearest emergency room for comprehensive evaluation.

What should I do if my child’s permanent tooth gets knocked out?

For any permanent teeth that are dislodged or knocked out, the best course of action is to place the tooth right back in its socket. Try not to handle the root and hold the tooth by it’s crown placing it back in its original location. Don’t worry about a perfect fit. Milk is the next best storage medium for avulsed teeth. As a third option, there are commercial tooth preservation kits like the “Save-A-Tooth” preservation kit. This is a small container filled with preserving saline to store a knocked out tooth in safely until it is replanted. It is important to never leave an avulsed tooth dry because this will reduce it’s chances of a successful replantation.

If you suspect any head trauma or your child feels unwell, head to the nearest emergency room for comprehensive evaluation. Please note that permanent tooth avulsions are very time sensitive. The first hour post avulsion is the most critical when it comes to the success of replantation.

🦷💫 Meet Dr. Ivy,  with team Smiles board-certified orthodontist and proud Los Angeles native!🌴
 After completing her dental degree at UCSF 🎓 and orthodontic specialty at NYU 🗽, she returned home to help kids and teens grow in their smiles 😃, confidence 💪, and self-esteem .
✨ Your child’s smile deserves a one-stop dental home , and we have it! Gentle pediatric care to expert orthodontics, we’ve got it all under one roof at Smiles! 🦷💫
What’s one thing that makes you feel more confident when you smile? 💬 Drop your thoughts below ⬇️💎
Want to learn more about how Dr. Ivy  at Smiles can help your child with Orthodontics? 
✨ Give our office a call today! ☎️
📞 (310) 837-6453
📧 info@smilesla.com
📍 10582 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 
Gentle care 💕, bright smiles , and confidence that lasts a lifetime ✨
#SmilesPediatricDentistryandOrthodontics #kidsdentist #PediatricDentist #PediatricOrthodontist #WestLosAngeles #DrIvy #DrIvyOrthodontist #DentalHome #TeamSmiles
@dr.ivyortho

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✨ A lot of parents wonder why their child’s newly erupted permanent teeth can appear yellow. Smiles Founder Dr. Reem says this happens because baby teeth, also called “milk teeth,” are naturally very white 🦷💛. When permanent teeth come in, they may appear a bit darker by comparison, but over time, as more permanent teeth come in and baby teeth exfoliate, Smiles tend to brighten to a healthy, pearly white 🌟
Does your child have permanent teeth that yellow? Let us know in the comments below!
💛 At Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics in West LA, we’re dedicated to nurturing your child’s smile with gentle, expert care every step of the way 🤗.
Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
📞 (310) 837-6453
📧 info@smilesla.com
Caring for bright smiles and confident kids with heart and expertise 💛🦷
#SmilesPediatricDentistryAndOrthodontics #PediatricDentalEducation #PermanentTeeth #BabyTeeth #WestLAPediatricDentist #KidsDentist #Oralhealth

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🦷 From the field to the dentist’s chair: Running back Sean Morris trusts the Solea laser at Smiles
Caption
Big congratulations to Sean Morris (@springplayer), who just committed to Northwestern as their first running back in this class 🏈. Before heading off to chase Big Ten glory, Sean came to Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics for his own victory: a pain-free Solea laser cavity treatment and cleaning.
No drills. No needles. Just comfort and care. That’s the future of dentistry for kids, teens, and even elite athletes.

💬 Would you want your child’s cavities treated without drills or shots? Drop a comment below.

📩 Curious about Solea laser dentistry? Contact our office today.
Contact Information
📞 (310) 837-6453
📧 info@smilesla.com
📍 10582 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064

Caring, loving, and gentle dentistry for the toughest sports!

#SmilesPediatricDentistryandOrthodontics #kidsdentist #PediatricDentist #PediatricOrthodontist #WestLosAngeles #LaserDentistry #sportsdentistry #painfreedentistry #explorepage #explore #viral #trending #footballstar

@springplayer 
@solea

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Brighter smiles, faster healing, light and care—this is the evolution of laser dentistry. 
At Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, Solea® and Gemini™ lasers help us provide safe, comfortable, and modern dental care for kids and teens. Our latest blog takes you inside the evolution of laser technology in dentistry—from light to healing.
Blog 👉 https://smilesla.com/pediatric-dentistry-orthodontics/light-to-healing-the-evolution-of-laser-in-pediatric-dentistry
Written by our wonderful Dr. Reem, this article traces the journey of dental lasers from Einstein’s early vision to today’s advanced Solea® and Gemini™ systems, showing how this innovation is shaping the future of pediatric care and transforming smiles with comfort and precision.
💬 Curious about the benefits of laser dentistry? Share your thoughts or questions below!
📩 Contact us to see how lasers can make your child’s next visit gentler.
📞 Phone: (310) 837-6453
📧 Email: info@smilesla.com
📍 West LA
 💡 From light to healing — intelligent, gentle, and supportive care every step of the way.
#SmilesPediatricDentistryandOrthodontics #kidsdentist #PediatricDentist #PediatricOrthodontist #LaserDentistry #SoleaLaser #GeminiLaser #lightheals #LightHealing #DentalInnovation #LaserEvolution #oralcare #parentsneedtoknow #foryou #explorepage #solealaser

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