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3 Most Common Dental Injuries in Sports (and How to Avoid Them)

20 December 2017 by Lonnie Bryant

Prevalence of sports-related dental injuries is on the rise, due to continued involvement in athletics and recreational activities. While a majority of these dental injuries are minor, it's common to experience more severe injuries, such as broken teeth or a completely knocked out tooth.

Regardless of the extent of your injury, dental related wounds require immediate extermination by an emergency dentist. Sometimes your neighbouring teeth can suffer unnoticed injuries that can be detected through an emergency dental exam.

These are the most commonly sustained dental injuries during recreational activities that could lead to severe complications down the line.

1. Cracked/fractured teeth

Cracking of a tooth during sports or other recreational activities can be easier than you think. Sustaining an abrupt blow to the mouth can often lead to broken or fractured teeth. A cracked tooth can sometimes be invisible to the eye and may not cause pain right away.

So, how do you know if your tooth is cracked?

• If you experience a sharp pain when you bite down

• Pain when drinking or eating hot or cold foods

• Pain that comes and goes but isn't constantly present

A cracked tooth can lead to severe complications down the line, and an immediate dental checkup will enable an emergency dentist to treat the problem in the early stages.

2. Fractured roots

Dental injuries in sports aren't always limited to cracked teeth. It is possible that an abrupt blow can cause a fractured root. A fractured root occurs when a crack beginning in the root travels vertically or horizontally along the root.

Since fractured roots are often invisible, you might not discover the problem until after an infection develops. Emergency treatment is required for fractured roots to reduce the risk of tooth loss.

3. Broken teeth

Broken teeth can be the most common dental injuries associated with sports. Heavily fractured and severely broken teeth require emergency dental care as this problem can become extremely painful.

How can you avoid dental injuries in sports?

Thankfully, you can avoid most sports-related dental injuries by wearing a mouthguard to protect teeth during sports. Mouth guards protect all areas of the mouth, including teeth, gums, tongue, lips, and cheeks.

Sports-related teeth injuries can result in long-term dental problems, especially if they don't receive immediate attention. If you've experienced a heavy blow to the mouth while participating in a rough game, visit an emergency dentist to evaluate and restore tooth injury.

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