Treatment for Teeth Related Sports Injuries


Participating in any sport as a hobby or at a professional level comes with a risk of injury. The usual sports injuries that players experience are facial and dental-related. Sports that account for most dental-related injuries include basketball, baseball, and soccer. Injuries can also happen in softball, boxing, field hockey, and gymnastics.
 

The good news is that most of these dental injuries are treatable. When these injuries occur, chances of repair and restoration are dependent on quick response and qualified dentists. However, the time it takes for players to recover from the injuries can significantly impact their career, so prevention should be a priority.


 

Common Sports-related Dental Injuries

 
  • Cracked teeth - This is a common injury in most contact sports. A tooth can fracture or crack following a blow to the face. If the crack begins from the crown downward, you need to see a dentist as soon as possible. 

  • Fractured roots - Most of these injuries are hard to detect just by looking since the crack begins from the root and makes its way to the surface. A tooth infection exposes such an injury. 

  • Fractured tooth - This happens when a tooth section breaks off entirely depending on the angle of impact. 

  • Tooth intrusion - These injuries involve pushing teeth into the jawbone instead of knocking them out or breaking them. Although these injuries are common among babies, they can also occur in players of all ages. 

  • Knocked-out tooth - Such injuries occur when the impact of force to the mouth area is enough to dislodge the tooth. At times the tooth can be reimplanted. 

  • Lateral displacement - This occurs when a tooth is pushed forward or backward, depending on the nature of the impact. 


 

Treatment of Sports-related Dental Injuries

 

The dentist will evaluate the type of injury and consider the functionality, aesthetic, and cost of the course of treatment. In many cases, the dentist will need to use x-ray imaging to better view the damage. Some of the most common treatments for sports injuries include the following. 
 

Mini Implants: Qualified dentists can perform this procedure during one visit. It is less costly than a procedure involving a standard implant.  
 

Lumineers: In the event of broken teeth or intrusions that cause uneven teeth alignment, dentists can digitally design veneers that cover their patient's teeth. These do not need extensive preparation because they are applied over the existing teeth. 
 

Invisalign: A dentist can use this orthodontic treatment in place of braces to guide the teeth back to proper alignment if the injury led to teeth misalignment. 
 

Tooth reimplantation: In the event of dislodgement, a dentist can reinsert the tooth to where it was initially if the patient gets to the dentist within half an hour. This procedure is usually for adult patients. 


Tooth extractions: If the tooth is damaged and cannot be saved, the dentist can opt to extract the tooth. However, depending on the patient, the dentist can later fill in the space using overlays or perform a root canal. 


 

To know more about teeth-related sports injuries, visit Rudell Gary S. Jacinto, DMD office in Los Angeles, California. You can also call (323) 405-9428 to book an appointment today. 

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