Surfer’s Guide: Tooth Hurt After a Surfboard Hit (San Juan Capistrano • Dana Point • Aliso Viejo • Mission Viejo • San Clemente)
San Juan Capistrano, CA
In pain after a surf injury? Call now
Same-day help is often available. Call (949) 496-5585 or start here: Emergency Dental Care.
What to do immediately (water or sand still everywhere)
If a permanent tooth was knocked out: Pick it up by the crown (top), not the root. If dirty, gently rinse with water (no soap), then reinsert into the socket and bite on gauze—or keep it moist in milk or your cheek and get urgent dental care. The sooner you act (ideally within 30 minutes), the better the chance to save the tooth.
If the tooth is chipped/cracked/loose: Rinse, apply a cold compress, avoid biting on that side, and call us. Save any broken fragments in milk or saline.
Cuts to lip/cheek/tongue: Apply direct pressure with clean gauze to control bleeding. (Board fins can cause sharp lacerations.) If bleeding won’t stop, seek urgent care.
ER or dentist—how to choose (surf-specific)
Go to the ER (now) if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, suspected jaw fracture, deep facial cuts, or loss of consciousness—then see a dentist for the teeth.
See an emergency dentist first for most tooth injuries (knocked-out, loose, cracked, broken crown/filling). We triage pain, stabilize the tooth, and start definitive care.
Tetanus check: Ocean cuts are “dirty” wounds—ask your clinician if you’re due for a tetanus booster (often every 10 years, sooner for dirty wounds).
What likely happened when a surfboard hits your mouth
Avulsion (tooth out): Time-critical—replant or store in milk and come in immediately. Long-term success drops with delay.
Luxation (tooth pushed sideways or loose): We reposition and splint; may need follow-up root canal if the nerve is compromised. International guidelines back quick stabilization.
Crown fracture (chip/crack): Options include bonding, onlay, or crown depending on depth; bring fragments if you have them.
How we treat surfboard-related tooth injuries
Same-day pain relief & X-rays/3D scan, then one of:
Repositioning & splinting for loose teeth (plus follow-up vitality testing).
Root canal therapy if the nerve is inflamed/infected → Root Canals.
Bonding/crown for cracks or fractures → Crowns & Bridges.
Socket graft + replacement if extraction is necessary → Dental Implants or bridge.
Home care while you heal: soft foods, avoid that side, cold compress, OTC pain relief as directed. Seek help sooner for fever, swelling, or worsening pain.
Costs, insurance & timing (no surprises)
We’ll give you an insurance-aware estimate before treatment and outline timelines (some injuries resolve in one visit; others take staged care over weeks).
Check benefits: Insurance Plans We Accept
Flexible options: Payment Options
FAQs: Surfboard Tooth & Mouth Injury — San Clemente & South OC
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Same day is best. Earlier stabilization improves outcomes for loose/shifted teeth.
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No. Don’t replant baby teeth. Call us and we’ll advise next steps.
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Any open cut can get contaminated. Rinse gently, control bleeding, and get professional care; ask about tetanus status for dirty wounds.
We treat surfers from San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo & San Clemente
Whether it happened at Doheny, Salt Creek, Trestles, San O, or Aliso, we’ve got you. Call (949) 496-5585 or book through Emergency Dental Care.
If a tooth is knocked out, follow the ADA/AAE first-aid steps above and come in immediately.
Helpful external resources (for quick reference):
ADA: Dental emergencies—what to do (knocked-out tooth steps).
AAE: Knocked-Out Teeth (30-minute window, replant/keep moist).
Mayo Clinic: Tooth loss & toothache first aid—when to seek ER vs. dentist.
IADT: Dental trauma guidelines (professional management & splinting).
This article is educational and not a substitute for emergency care. If in doubt—especially with breathing issues, heavy bleeding, or head/jaw trauma—go to the ER first.
