Lifestyle diseases are currently the leading causes of mortality and morbidity. While good dietary habits go some way in minimizing your risk of contracting these conditions, they will not do much without some physical activity. Engaging in sports is one of the best ways to boost your health and have fun while doing so. Other than this, athletes are one of the highest-paid professionals nowadays. Becoming one might be a sure avenue to financial security.
Even so, injuries are a real hazard in most sports. Few people, however, see the need for a mouthguard for their sports, like basketball. They assume that mouthguards are a preserve of contact sports like boxing, football, and wrestling, thrill-seeking sports like skateboarding and ball-and-stick games like hockey, lacrosse, and baseball. Though basketball does not fall into these categories, it accounts for about 10 percent of sports-related dental injuries. To this end, a mouthguard is essential in basketball.
All in all, the following are common dental injuries in athletes.
Cracked Teeth
Fractured teeth account for the highest number of dental injuries. The severity of dental fractures primarily depends on whether or not an athlete was wearing a mouthguard at the time of impact. Some cases of mild dental fractures are not as visible, and the only symptom is tooth sensitivity. These fractures are noticed during regular dental exams and might necessitate bonding or crowns to treat effectively. Severe tooth fractures are managed using root canal treatment or tooth extraction and the placement of dental implants or bridges.
Tooth Intrusion
This happens when a tooth is pushed into its socket, commonly following some axial impact. Tooth intrusion is a severe type of dental displacement injury. In about 96 percent of cases, it results in the death or damage of nerves around fully formed dental roots. If the intrusion affects immature tooth roots, it is followed by spontaneous tooth re-eruption. Treatment of tooth intrusion often involves repositioning, orthodontic treatment, splinting, or surgery. Tooth intrusion should be managed as an emergency to avert necrosis of your dental pulp.
Tooth Extrusion
In this injury, trauma results in the partial eruption of a tooth towards the palate. The management of tooth extrusion generally involves repositioning the tooth gently in its socket then holding it in place with a non-rigid splint. During treatment, a dentist will monitor the pulp’s development to pick any issues that might need endodontic therapies.
Knocked-Out Teeth
In most cases, a knocked-out tooth can be saved when returned to its socket within an hour of an injury. The periodontal fibers attached to the root’s surfaces should, however, be in good condition for the tooth to recover its full functionality. The returning of the tooth to its socket should be handled by a dentist to avoid damaging the periodontal fibers.
The above sports-related dental injuries are thankfully preventable with a mouthguard. Getting a comfortable mouthguard that fits your teeth perfectly is essential. This might, at times, necessitate a customized mouthguard. Though costly, the money you spend on this is nonetheless far less than what you would treat the above dental injuries.
