Injuries are an integral part of sports. The rougher the sports, the more risks of injuries. People in sports like cricket, basketball, football, baseball, rugby, and boxing have more chances of getting injuries. These injuries can occur on any part of the body, including the mouth. Sportspersons use protective gear, like mouthguards, to curtail the risk of dental injuries. Thus, It is crucial to comprehend the oral dangers connected to sports. Any dental injury left neglected or unaddressed might eventually result in more expensive and more significant issues. Here are five types of sports injuries everyone should know about.
Soft Tissue Injuries
The majority of dental injuries faced by athletes are often brought on by physical trauma. The mandible, gums, teeth, tongue, and cheeks are among the anatomical elements that a doctor would examine, along with the mobility of the jaw. These areas will be visually inspected, and any oedema, erythema, lacerations, or punctures will be noted.
Cracked Tooth
A cracked tooth can occur when a sportsperson takes a hard blow on the face with punches or a hard ball. This is very different from a chipped tooth, in which a tooth is chipped off from the corner. While in the case of a cracked tooth, the tooth gets cracked.
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The cracked tooth may only have craze lines that are longitudinal fractures or cracks that run the length of the tooth. These are the fractures of the enamel and are minor in nature of the injury.
One may also have a cracked tooth that may start near the root and move further. This type of cracked tooth is serious, and the sportsperson may experience discomfort and pain while eating or drinking.
Fractured Roots
Fractured roots are another dental injury that sportspersons can develop while playing. It occurs when the impact happens at a certain angle on the jaw, which damages the tooth's root. In this type of dental injury, the fracture occurs at the root that slowly extends to the visible parts of the teeth.
Since the fracture occurs at the root, you might not become aware of the issue until an infection starts to spread. Depending on where the fracture occurs along the root, this kind of tooth damage can range in severity.
When this is left untreated for long, it can even lead to the loss of teeth. The sooner a patient with a root fracture undergoes root canal therapy, commonly known as endodontic care, to stop infection in the pulp, the less probable it is that necrosis, which eventually results in tooth loss, would occur.
Tooth Intrusion
This is another common sports-related dental injury sportspersons prone to. In tooth intrusion, the teeth are pushed back into the jawbone with a hard blow, impact, fall, or encounter with a fellow player during the play. Tooth intrusion can lead to several complications like damage to the roots (root resorption), tooth pulp, and bending of the injured tooth root to the alveolar bone. When this condition is left untreated for long, it can also lead to tooth loss.
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Avulsed Teeth
Another common dental injury associated with sports is an avulsed tooth. Damage of this nature totally separates a tooth from its socket. Dental implants are the ideal course of action for avulsed teeth, which can aid in restoring the patient's smile and make teeth natural-looking.
Bottomline
It's no fun if you are not playing with your full heart. Thus, it is important to wear proper gear while playing sports so that the fear of injury does not come in the way. If you suffer any blow during the play, visit your doctor and get it diagnosed and treated timely.
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