Sports Dentistry

Sports dentistry is the aspect of dental care that is concerned with the prevention and treatment of dental injuries caused by participation in athletics.

A tooth that is traumatized by a blow to the face during athletic participation may not show any symptoms at all for days, months or years. Many times the only symptom is a discoloration of the tooth due to the "nerve" of the tooth slowly dying and disintegrating. If this discoloration is noticed, contact your dentist immediately! This tooth will, in most circumstances, require immediate endodontic treatment to prevent an acute infection from occurring. This type of infection may be accompanied by pain, swelling, and possible bone loss.

The key to preventing dental injuries is wearing a properly designed and fitted mouthguard on a routine basis.

The American Dental Association recommends that custom mouthguards be worn when participating in many sports, including: Basketball, Boxing, Football, Gymnastics/Acrobatics, Hockey, Skateboarding, Skiing, Soccer, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weightlifting, and Wrestling

Treatment

If a tooth is cracked, broken or partially knocked out by a blow to the face, you should:

• Attempt to find the broken piece[s]
• Try to stop any bleeding with pressure
• Apply a bag of crushed ice in a towel to help reduce pain and swelling
• Call your dentist as soon as possible to determine if immediate treatment is required.