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Sports injuries are a pretty common occurrence in this country and around the world. With a large percentage of school students participating in competitive athletics in the United States, it really isn’t surprising to find that more than three and half million kids seek medical treatment for injuries related to sports. In fact, basketball alone accounted for an average of four fatalities per year, as of 2002.

While that may or may not surprise the general population, what many seem to consistently overlook is how damaging sports can be to oral health. It is estimated that more than three million teeth will be knocked out due to contact sports this year alone. Accounting for the highest percentage of these oral dislodgements are basketball and baseball, which are also highly associated with injuries such as broken teeth and jaw bones.

Of course, while terrifying, these statistics are not likely to discourage the youth in this country from taking part in the highly entertaining activities. Nevertheless, they should serve as reminders of the dangers that lurk on the playing fields, courts, and courses around the nation. Dentists and oral surgeons have consistently recommended that players of any contact sport wear a fitted mouth guard during play to help defend against such accidents. Yet, the use of this sort of protective gear is still not required at most schools in America.

For parents of children participating in these sorts of events, it is recommended that an over-the-counter mouth guard be considered, even if it is not mandatory. The light plastic pieces can be purchased for as little as fifteen dollars and come with directions on how to boil and fit to the mouth in order to ensure a proper fit. You may also schedule a visit with your Austin dentist, much like you would for a cleaning or teeth whitening session, in order to discuss the option of a custom guard. Many players prefer the professionally molded guards because of their smaller size and superior fit. These can make it easier to communicate with other players in the midst of a game. Though the cost of these will be more than what would be paid for the store-bought option, it can save a great deal of money in the future. Emergency dentistwork is not cheap and will often require more than one visit for a dislodged tooth. Those that are badly broken or chipped may even require caps. All of this can add up quite quickly, making the mouth guard a wise investment.

If a child does suffer an orally-related injury during game play, seek the immediate attention of a trained dentist. A dislodged tooth can often be replaced with great success if done within twenty-four hours. During the time that you must wait to be seen, the tooth should be placed in a glass of milk. Do not clean the tooth, place it in water, or disturb it in any other way, as you could ruin the root tissue, making it impossible for the dentist to replace the tooth. For those that cannot be successfully replaced, there is now the option to use implants, for a realistic looking replacement.

Austin Dental Center PC
2304 Hancock Dr. Suite 1
Austin, TX 78756-2537
(512) 454-0414