Sports are all usually forms of competitive physical activity or games which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants, and in some cases, entertainment for spectators. It involves almost any age group and becomes a part of everyone’s life directly or indirectly. Various sport activities requires varying demands of physical contact whilst some need none. However did you know that some of these physical sports activities can inflict serious physical injuries that can have varying grades of implications.

Sports dentistry is the prevention and treatment of dental injuries and related oral diseases, as well as the sharing of information and equipment designed to help protect the teeth, mouth, jaw, and face of athletes of all ages. Injuries to the teeth and mouth are common among athletes. It’s important to protect your child’s smile if he or she plays sports, for aesthetics as well as health reasons.

As Ankura dental clinic is one of the modern and best dental clinics in Hyderabad, we lay emphasis in bringing you significant awareness on understanding the common possible injuries that is to be expected with the particular sport associated. Our team of dental specialist at Ankura dental hospital are available to provide you all the necessary information related to sports dentistry.

Sports dentistry forms one of the integral and much unknown part of the dentistry. At Ankura dental hospital which is one the premiere and leading dental clinics in Hyderabad, we have highly experienced and skilled team of dentist who hold specialised certifications in the field of sports dentistry.

Sports dentistry is the prevention and treatment of dental injuries and related oral diseases, as well as the sharing of information and equipment designed to help protect the teeth, mouth, jaw, and face of athletes of all ages. Injuries to the teeth and mouth are common among athletes. It’s important to protect your child’s smile if he or she plays sports, for aesthetics as well as health reasons.

Common Sports associated with dental injuries:

Football isn’t the only sport that spells trouble. Activities such as baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, wrestling, hockey, volleyball and gymnastics lag behind in injury protection for boys and girls, according to an AAPD report titled “Policy on Prevention of Sports-related Orofacial Injuries.”
In an Indian setup local contact sports such as Cricket, Kabaddi, kho kho has also been associated with dental injuries. As most of these sports are commonly played and participated by various age groups, frequent sports counselling to the parents and school sports coordinator and others in charge must be done routinely.

Common Dental Injuries in Sports:

Tooth knocked out:

Time is the most important factor when trying to save a tooth, so get to your dentist as soon as possible. In general, there is a 30-minute window of opportunity to re-implant the tooth in the socket.

  • Do not try to re-implant the tooth yourself.
  • The best liquid to transport a tooth in is cold milk. If milk is not available, use saliva (if possible), saline, or if nothing else is available, water.
  • Don’t let the tooth dry out and don’t wrap it in anything.
  • Don’t touch the tooth root if you can avoid it.

Tooth chipped/cracked:

Your dentist will likely use an X-ray of the tooth to determine the treatment necessary. For a serious chip that exposes the pulp of the tooth, get to your dentist as soon as possible.

  • If a tooth is chipped or cracked, sometimes the tooth can be fixed with a filling or bonding alone.
  • Sometimes a tooth is cracked or chipped in a way affecting the nerve of the tooth, and a more complicated treatment may be needed.
  • Tooth displaced: If a tooth is moved due to trauma, see your dentist as soon as possible.
    Do not try to move the tooth back on your own.

For any mouth discomfort before you get to the dentist, apply ice.

Preventing Injury:

One of the best ways to prevent injury to your child’s teeth and mouth is to have him or her to wear a Mouth-guard while playing sports. There are several types of ‘Mouth-guards’ to choose from, and your doctor can help you choose the best one for your child’s particular needs.

At Ankura dental clinic which houses one of the best dental specialists in departments of orthodontics, Root canal dentistry and dental implants and child dentistry, we have vastly experienced team of dentist who will plan and design a custom made mouth-guard exclusively catering your needs.

A mouth-guard, properly fitted, should be worn during any contact sport or activities where there is risk of an injury to the face e.g. footy, hockey, volleyball, soccer etc. Without a mouth-guard, sports injuries and accidents can result in damage and injury to the gum, lips or teeth, tooth fractures, knocked out teeth and jaw fractures.

Significant trauma to permanent (adult) teeth is also common with falls from skateboards, roller-blades, trampolines and scooters.

Types of Mouth-guards:

Custom-fitted – constructed and fitted to the shape of your mouth by a dental professional. These mouth-guards have been proven to reduce the number and severity of mouth injuries in sport and during training.

Boil-and-bite – once the lining is softened in boiling water, the person bites on the mouth-guard to help it take the shape of their mouth. The process of biting down onto the softened lining can decrease the guard thickness and therefore its effectiveness. These mouth-guards can be uncomfortable to wear.

Ready-made – These are ready-to-wear mouth-guards available over the counter at sports shops and chemists. While these are the cheapest mouth-guard, they also offer the least amount of protection. They are bulky and hard to keep in the mouth due to their poor fit.

Custom Made Mouth-guards

A custom made mouth-guard should:

  • Fit snugly and be comfortable
  • Allow normal breathing and swallowing
  • Allow the wearer to speak
  • Be odorless and tasteless
  • Be thick enough to provide protection against impact.

A mouth-guard may need to be replaced as changes occur in your mouth, such as the eruption of permanent teeth or restorations. Mouth-guards need to be rinsed in cold water before use. After use, dry and store in a plastic container with air vents to allow the air to circulate.

Mouth-guards should be kept in a cool place as they can distort if left in the sun or hot water.

We insist you on your next visit at Ankura dental hospital to consult our dental specialist about the right mouth-guard for you and your family. Our doctors will be more than obliged to help you prevent from the distressing consequences of an unavoidable ever happening contact sport incidents. At Ankura dental clinic, our specialised team immensely feels privileged to be in a position to serve. We make this your practice too, which is why we value and embrace your opinions and critics, good or bad. We will rejoice in having served you well.

By

Ankura Dental – Best Dental Clinic in Hyderabad

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,