High-contact sports like hockey and
football can expose your teeth to danger. Some sports are more likely to cause
dental injuries than other. According to the American Academy of General
Dentistry, soccer players are more likely to sustain dental-related injuries.
This is because soccer, like basketball, softball, and pick-up games of touch
football, are sports where face masks and mouth guards are not mandatory, which
increases the odds for face and mouth injuries. Apart from causing dental
trauma from direct impact, sports may also prove quite costly for people who
have had extensive cosmetic dental work or braces.
Preventing Sports-Related Dental Injuries
A holistic approach to dentistry involving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these types of oral health injuries is essential. Pre-season examinations and screenings help identify loose teeth, at-risk teeth, missing teeth, tentative bridge and crown work, etc.
Any teeth positioned in a more forward position must be identified and orthodontic treatment applied using traditional or clear Invisalign braces. Properly aligned teeth are less likely to absorb big amounts of individual force and are therefore less likely to fracture.
Mouth guards are by far the most effective way of preventing sports-related dental injuries. Mouth guards provide protection and can prevent breaking, chipping, cracking, or knocked out teeth. It is always better to visit a dentist for customized mouth guards instead of opting for a one-size-fits-all type of guard sold at sporting goods stores.
Treating Sports-Related Dental Injuries
1. Broken, fractured or chipped teeth
Minor tooth fractures only involve the chipping of the enamel. The tooth does not get displaced and the gums do not start bleeding. The only symptom of minor chipping may be rough or sharp edges irritating the tongue and cheek. Enamel fractures are treated by smoothing the enamel or using a composite resin filing. For large fractures, a porcelain veneer may be necessary.
Deeper fractures, on the other hand, involve both the enamel and the dentin, but the teeth do not get displaced. However, the deeper fractures may be sensitive to food or cold temperatures while prolonged exposure of the dentin to bacteria can cause the death of your inner pulp tissue, which cause an abscess or serious tooth infection. If the pulp has been significantly damaged by the fractures, then treatment involves performing root canal therapy followed by full or partial dental filling, and a porcelain crown to protect the pulp.
2. Dislodged teeth
During impact while playing sports, a tooth may get pushed to one side, into or out of its socket. A dislodged tooth has to be repositioned and stabilized with splints by a dentist. The quicker the procedure is carried out, the better the odd of saving dislodged teeth.
3. Knocked out teeth
The front upper permanent teeth are the most common teeth to get completely knocked out when your face gets hit when playing contact sports like football and hockey. For kids, knocked out primary or baby teeth need not be retrieved since they will be naturally replaced by permanent teeth later. However, a knocked out permanent tooth should be kept moist and re-implanted into its socket by a qualified dentist as soon as possible. The success of this procedure depends a lot on the length of time the tooth remains out of its socket. In adults, a root canal procedure should be performed on the re-implanted tooth within seven to 10 days.
4. Broken jaws
If after a particularly nasty hit, you are unable to bring your lower and upper teeth together, then your jaw may have been broken or dislocated. A broken jaw must be set back into the original position and stabilized with wires to allow healing. This can take six weeks or more, depending on the severity of the fracture and the age of the patient.
Dental implants and dental bridges are the best single tooth replacements for knocked out or badly broken teeth that must be extracted. If more than one tooth is involved, a partial denture may also be considered as a viable tooth replacement option.
Minor tooth fractures only involve the chipping of the enamel. The tooth does not get displaced and the gums do not start bleeding. The only symptom of minor chipping may be rough or sharp edges irritating the tongue and cheek. Enamel fractures are treated by smoothing the enamel or using a composite resin filing. For large fractures, a porcelain veneer may be necessary.
Deeper fractures, on the other hand, involve both the enamel and the dentin, but the teeth do not get displaced. However, the deeper fractures may be sensitive to food or cold temperatures while prolonged exposure of the dentin to bacteria can cause the death of your inner pulp tissue, which cause an abscess or serious tooth infection. If the pulp has been significantly damaged by the fractures, then treatment involves performing root canal therapy followed by full or partial dental filling, and a porcelain crown to protect the pulp.
2. Dislodged teeth
During impact while playing sports, a tooth may get pushed to one side, into or out of its socket. A dislodged tooth has to be repositioned and stabilized with splints by a dentist. The quicker the procedure is carried out, the better the odd of saving dislodged teeth.
3. Knocked out teeth
The front upper permanent teeth are the most common teeth to get completely knocked out when your face gets hit when playing contact sports like football and hockey. For kids, knocked out primary or baby teeth need not be retrieved since they will be naturally replaced by permanent teeth later. However, a knocked out permanent tooth should be kept moist and re-implanted into its socket by a qualified dentist as soon as possible. The success of this procedure depends a lot on the length of time the tooth remains out of its socket. In adults, a root canal procedure should be performed on the re-implanted tooth within seven to 10 days.
4. Broken jaws
If after a particularly nasty hit, you are unable to bring your lower and upper teeth together, then your jaw may have been broken or dislocated. A broken jaw must be set back into the original position and stabilized with wires to allow healing. This can take six weeks or more, depending on the severity of the fracture and the age of the patient.
Dental implants and dental bridges are the best single tooth replacements for knocked out or badly broken teeth that must be extracted. If more than one tooth is involved, a partial denture may also be considered as a viable tooth replacement option.
Learn more about holistic dentistry and
how it can be used to treat sports-related dental injuries. Contact The DC Dentist today
to schedule your appointment.
Terry Victor, DDS – Washington DC
Dentist
509 11th St SE Washington, DC 20003
(202) 544-3626
http://www.thedcdentist.com/
https://plus.google.com/116338970420867784677/
509 11th St SE Washington, DC 20003
(202) 544-3626
http://www.thedcdentist.com/
https://plus.google.com/116338970420867784677/
