Sports are meant to be fun, but they’re also the cause of dental injuries. It’s not always from high contact sports like football or hockey. A flying elbow on the basketball court, a speeding volleyball, or a slip on the soccer field can all result in traumatic injuries in Ellicott City.
Obviously, this shouldn’t prevent you from playing the sports you enjoy. It just means you should stay aware of the risks of potential injuries, including dental injuries during the activity. Taking proactive measures, and knowing what to do if an injury occurs, will help save your teeth should something unfortunate happen. To help achieve this goal, we’ve compiled a list of the most common sports-related dental injuries.
If you need dental treatment for traumatic injuries in Ellicott City, contact Access Endodontics today by calling 410.304.7226. Drs. Jarboe, Waxman, and out team of dedicated dental professionals will help save your natural teeth, allowing them to regain their function as quickly as possible.
Common Sports-Related Dental Injuries
Broken or Cracked Teeth
The most common sports-related dental injury is a cracked or broken tooth. Broken teeth are fairly noticeable, as they result in a part of the tooth separating entirely, whereas cracked teeth can be a little trickier to diagnose.
If you see a line running vertically down your tooth after receiving a blow to the face, and then begin experiencing any of the following, speak to your dentist as soon as possible:
- Significant pain when you bite
- Sensitivity to hot or cold foods
- Tooth pain that comes and goes
Cracks which extend below the gumline have the potential of causing an infection. This would require a root canal, which means a visit to an endodontist.
Fractured Tooth Root
The tooth root is the part of your tooth that is not visible. An injury there can often go undetected until a bigger issue arises, such as an infection. Once the infection has spread to the inside of the tooth, the only way to treat it is with root canal therapy.
Root canal therapy is when your endodontist uses special tools to access the inside of your tooth. Once inside, the endodontist will remove the infected dental pulp, preventing the loss of your natural tooth.
Early detection is critical. If a severe infection is allowed to occur, an extraction may be the only viable option. This is why contacting your dentist after a significant blow to the mouth, is a good practice to follow.
Tooth Intrusion
Depending on the angle of impact to the athlete’s mouth, they may end up with a tooth intrusion. A tooth intrusion is when a tooth is pushed inwards. This can cause several problems involving the tooth root and the jawbone.
Sometimes an intrusion will simply damage the dental pulp, requiring the help of an endodontist to preserve the tooth. It may also result in the shortening of the tooth root, or a fusion of the tooth root to the jawbone.
These situations aren’t fun and may cause more issues if left untreated. Make sure to speak to your dentist as soon as possible if you suspect you need treatment for a traumatic dental injury of any kind.
Find Treatment for Traumatic Dental Injuries at Access Endodontics
If you’ve sustained any dental injuries in sports and need treatment, contact Drs. Jarboe and Waxman at Access Endodontics by calling 410.304.7226 or using the online form.