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With school back in session and extracurricular sports gearing up, it’s time to talk about protecting your teeth! While nobody ever expects a dental emergency, the best way to handle one is to never get one in the first place! Here’s a closer look at three common sports-related dental injuries, and how you can prevent yourself or your child from being on the receiving end!
Chips & Cracks
Sometimes deep cracks or chips in the teeth are immediately noticeable, either because they hurt or they’re visible to the naked eye. Unfortunately, however, sometimes these fractures can be so small that the only way to detect them is via X-ray. Worse yet, leaving them untreated can allow bacteria to infiltrate the space, granting them to access the sensitive nerves inside your teeth and causing a painful infection which could result in a root canal or extraction if not treated promptly. Thus, if you receive an injury or blow to the mouth, be sure to visit your emergency dentist ASAP, even if everything appears fine on the surface.
Root Fractures
Another sneaky way that teeth can become damaged during sports is fractured roots. Because they sit below the gumline, it can be nearly impossible to determine if there’s an injury, leading to further damage that could eventually spread upwards and break the visible portion of the tooth. This can result in infection and could eventually lead to an extraction. Thus, be sure to have your emergency dentist examine your smile as soon as possible after injury, especially if you have unexplained pain that has no visible source.
Tooth Intrusion
Intrusion occurs when instead of knocking a tooth out, it is pushed down into the jawbone. While it is less likely to occur with permanent teeth, this type of injury is very common in child athletes, as kids’ alveolar bones have not yet solidified. Intrusions aren’t just painful- they also can destroy the pulp of the tooth, shorten the roots, and cause a painful condition called ankylosis, where the roots accidentally fuse with the alveolar bone.
How to Protect Your Smile During Sports
Unlike other types of dental emergencies, sports related injuries are much harder to prevent. However, that doesn’t mean you have to wing it, either. Wearing a professional sports guard when participating in athletic activities can protect your teeth and gums from painful dental emergencies, or at a minimum lessen their severity. While it’s true that any guard is better than none, professional appliances from your dentist are more comfortable and offer better protection than those boil and bite devices available at most sporting goods stores, making it more likely they’ll be used appropriately so they can do their job correctly.
Remember, while it can be difficult to avoid contact while playing sports, protecting your smile with a professional sports guard can reduce your risk of painful, permanent injury to the teeth and gums. To have one made for you, contact your dentist today so you can stop stressing about your grin and put that focus back on your game!
About Our Practice
Dr. Noah Rosen earned his undergraduate degree at North Carolina State University and his dental degree at the University of Florida. Since graduating, he has completed the
New Doctor Continuum at Heartland Dental University, the Live Implant Training with Dr. Arun Garg, and the American Academy of Facial Esthetics’ Continuum, where he earned master’s level as a BOTOX® and dermal filler provider. To schedule a consultation for a sports mouthguard at Rosen Dental, visit our website. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, call us directly at 773-248-6140.