What are common dental injuries athletes face?
Due to the fact that they are frequently brought on by blows to the head or face, the following dental injuries are frequent among athletes.
Knocked Out Tooth
We often see athletes on television and on the field with gaps in their teeth. This is because a knocked out tooth is a common sports injury.
If your tooth is knocked out, attempt to locate it as soon as possible. Pick it up by the crown and avoid touching the root. Rinse it off and place it back into the socket if you can, biting down gently to hold it in place.
It is essential to keep the tooth moist if you can't put it back in its socket. In order to save the tooth until you can get to the dentist, place it in a cup of milk (not water), your saliva, or in your mouth next to your cheek.
Ideally, you’ll get to the dentist’s office within 30 minutes of the injury. If you see your dentist quickly enough, they may be able to save your tooth.
Fractured Tooth Roots
Take a hard hit from the wrong angle and you could suffer a fractured tooth root. In these cases, the crack originates from the roots of the tooth and makes its way up.
A fractured tooth root may leave you without any visible symptoms. They can occasionally only be seen because they are below the gum line and only become infected when the pulp of the tooth becomes inflamed.
A patient with a tooth root fracture should have root canal therapy as soon as possible to prevent or treat infection.
Tooth Intrusion
Tooth intrusion is another painful condition that occurs when the tooth is driven back into the jawbone.
Children often experience this injury more than adults, as the alveolar bones that hold their tooth sockets are not as strong as those of adults.
Treatment will differ depending on whether it is a primary (baby) or permanent tooth. If the intruded tooth has not intruded into the developing adult tooth, the dentist will allow it to re-erupt spontaneously in primary teeth. If the tooth fails to regrow, the dentist will extract it.
A permanent intruded tooth will also be given the chance to passively re-erupt. If re-eruption does not happen, surgical or orthodontic re-eruption treatment can be performed, along with endodontic treatment.
Cracked Tooth
A split or crack that starts at the crown and travels down into the tooth is the definition of a cracked tooth. You might feel a sharp pain when biting down, sporadic tooth pain, or sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures if you have a cracked tooth. Additionally, you might not have any symptoms at all.
Depending on the type of crack and its severity, your dentist may repair it with a crown, filling or dental bonding. In very severe cases, a root canal or extraction may be necessary. See your dentist as soon as possible.
How to prevent sports injuries
A custom-made mouth guard, which serves as a barrier between your teeth and gums and protects your teeth from blows to the head or face, can help prevent many dental emergencies that arise as a result of sports injuries.
If you play sports or engage in high-impact physical activities, talk to your dentist about a custom-made mouthguard today.
