Being a lifelong athlete comes with its challenges. Starting sports at a young age is fun, but can also lead to some falls, sprains, cuts, or injuries that are not so fun to deal with. Thankfully, there are specific dental interventions to help patients who receive tooth injuries as a result of playing sports.
Our experts at Alta Dental Care offer sports injury services to patients of all ages. From emergency dentistry to tooth bonding and repair, take a look at what we can provide if you or your loved one gets hurt while out playing on the field.
Chipped, Cracked, and Broken Teeth
The most common of tooth injuries from sports that players sustain has to do with damaging the teeth. Cracked teeth can occur when the player is not wearing a dental-approved mouthguard. According to the ADA, players without a mouthguard are 60 times more likely to suffer an injury to the teeth.
If you have a cracked, chipped, or broken tooth, it’s important to seek out dental bonding services to repair the broken parts of your tooth. This is a quick, easy, and painless procedure that applies an adhesive to the tooth in order to repair it, both functionally and cosmetically. Cracked and chipped teeth are not only hazardous to your health due to exposed edges but can also cause pain and complications in other parts of your mouth, such as the gums and tongue.
Missing Tooth
Sometimes, more serious injuries can occur. This happens when teeth are actually knocked out of the mouth. When that happens, you might need to find your local emergency dental services right away. In some cases, if you act quickly enough, you may be able to save the tooth. However, it may be that the dental trauma is too great. And your local dentist will have to find other means to restore health to the affected area.
Tooth Intrusion
Tooth intrusion occurs when the tooth, rather than being knocked out, is actually driven back and pushed into the jaw. Not only is this very painful, but it can be damaging to your bone and surrounding nerves. Tooth intrusion also leads to tooth decay because it can destroy the pulp of the tooth.
An intruded tooth can also damage the root system of the tooth. Dealing with dental trauma is difficult. But there are several solutions available to restore you back to health as quickly as possible. Our experts recommend an investment in a root canal that eliminates the affected nerves and pulp, essentially deadening the tooth, so disease does not spread.
Are there Long-Term Problems Caused by Sports Injuries?
If you can get emergency dental attention as quickly as possible, you can greatly increase your chances of preventing long-term problems from occurring. A general rule of thumb is to seek dental assistance as fast as you can. The longer a broken, chipped, missing, or intruded tooth goes untreated, the more likely it is to spread decay and nerve damage throughout your mouth.
At Alta Dental Care, we provide a wide range of emergency services to prevent patients from suffering from the long-term effects of dental trauma. While some injuries may be minor, they can have lasting damage if they are not properly treated.
Treat Your Sports Injuries ASAP!
It is common for players, especially children, to suffer some injuries during physical contact sports. There are precautions to take into account. Such as wearing a mouth guard during sports matches, that can greatly reduce the chance of getting injured. If an injury does occur, you need to seek dental help as quickly as possible. Our Alta Dental Care specialists are standing by to provide comprehensive care that will fit your needs. For more information, contact us online or call us at (909) 451-8300 to make an appointment.