Sports Related Tooth Injury

Now that summer is upon us and the coronavirus seems to be abating, thoughts are turning toward summer sports and the fun to be had after more than a year of isolation or semi-isolation. With the prospect of a return to summer sports comes also the return of sports injuries. Dental injuries can almost be considered inevitable, especially in basketball.

A Few Statistics on Dental Injuries During Sports

The sport with the highest number of dental injuries is basketball. Even though this is not a contact sport, the players’ lack of protection leaves them open for mouth injuries. Head and face injuries are among the top five injuries in basketball. The National Basketball Association (NBA) has not mandated mouthguards for the players; however, more players are deciding on their own to use them.

One study revealed that among college athletes, those who play basketball are five times more likely than football players to sustain a dental injury. Since basketball is not seen as a contact sport, mouthguards have not yet been mandated, despite the statistics for dental injury.

Basketball players are somewhat hesitant to use mouthguards because of the conversation that takes place on the court during play. Giving a teammate directions can be difficult when wearing a mouthguard.

Sports-related dental injuries comprise from 13 to 39% of all dental injuries sustained by children. In one study, 31% of varsity basketball players surveyed in Florida sustained orofacial injuries during the season.

The Three Most Common Injuries

There are three injuries that occur most often during sports. These are cracked teeth, fractured roots and tooth intrusion.

A blow to the face can cause a cracked or fractured tooth. Superficial cracks or “craze lines” do not go past the enamel of the tooth and therefore are not considered high risk for dental health. If a tooth is cracked or split at the crown and the injury extends downward, the tooth is in need of repair.

Fractured roots can also be caused by a blow to an athlete’s face. This can happen if the blow is struck at a particular angle. In this situation, the fracture begins at the root of the tooth and may work its way to the visible surface of the tooth. Unfortunately, these fractures are usually invisible and discovered when an infection develops.

Tooth intrusion drives the tooth further into the jawbone. This injury often occurs with children who have primary teeth. The alveolar bones that hold the tooth sockets are not as hard in children as they are in adults, although this type of injury can occur at any age.

Sacramento Emergency Dentist is here to help with any type of dental injury you or your child may experience. Just give us a call and let us know the type of injury. We will do our best to see you as soon as possible and get you on the road to recovery.