Due to the physical contact, impact, and accidents that can happen in many sports, injuries to the teeth can be common without the use of proper protection. When a tooth injury occurs, it’s important to seek dental care as soon as possible–this increases the chances of saving your natural teeth.
An experienced endodontist like Dr. James A. Penney specializes in saving teeth. His trusted team has been providing expert care in Little Rock for twenty years! If you’ve experienced a traumatic injury to the mouth or are experiencing tooth pain following a sports injury, don’t wait to make an appointment with a dental provider. Even though sporting events often take place after hours, Dr. Penney’s office has a 24/7 answering service, so your injury can be addressed quickly. Don’t wait, call 501-227-7668 to make an appointment.
To learn more about the most common injuries to teeth in athletes, and the best ways to protect your smile, keep reading.
Cracked Teeth
When athletes get hit with a ball, bat, or by another player in the face, it could cause a cracked tooth. There are various types of teeth cracks, and symptoms may be minor or come and go. If the cusp of the tooth is weak, it may cause a fracture. The fractured piece may break off or be removed by your dental provider. Usually, it is treated with a crown. If the damage to the tooth is more severe, causing damage to the root of the tooth, an endodontist can still work to save your natural tooth with a relatively painless root canal procedure.
Avulsed Teeth
If a sports injury causes a tooth to be completely knocked out, this is referred to as an avulsed tooth. Even if a tooth is knocked out, there is still a chance to save it by acting timely and seeking immediate care with an endodontist like Dr. Penney. If a tooth doesn’t dry out, it may be put back into the socket. So if you experience an avulsed tooth while playing a sport, put the tooth in a glass of water with a pinch of salt or in a glass of milk until you can see your dental provider. They will be able to determine treatment based on the state of the tooth.
Dislodged Teeth
When traumatic injury to the face and mouth occurs, teeth can be pushed down into the socket or pushed partially out of the socket. These types of injuries are known as dislodged teeth. An endodontist or general dentist may attempt to reposition and stabilize your tooth if possible. If the pulp inside of intact teeth remains healthy, then no other treatment will be necessary. However, if the pulp becomes damaged or infected, a root canal treatment is necessary.
Protective Gear
The best way to prevent dental injury while playing sports is to wear protective gear like mouth guards and helmets.
Mouth guards are essential for sports with bats, balls, sticks, rackets, or the chance for person-to-person contact. They can be purchased ready-to-wear or be customized using an impression of your teeth.
Helmets should be worn whenever possible to protect the face, jaw, and mouth from possible traumatic injury from physical impact with another object or person.
Even those who partake in solo sports like cycling, running, or skating should consider protective gear to prevent injury from falls or accidents.
Best Practices & Proper Treatment
Maintaining good oral health practices can ensure your teeth are healthy and strong–and less susceptible to severe injury.
If you take a blow to the mouth or jaw and believe a tooth may be damaged, seek care with a trusted dental provider like Dr. Penney as soon as possible. Your provider will be able to determine the extent of the injury and decide which treatment options are the most likely to save you natural teeth.
Call 501-227-7668 today if you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment!
