Is your child or teen an athlete? When you watch them play, you’re probably nervous about an accident happening and them getting injured or hurt. According to information collected by a team of researchers, over five million teeth are knocked-out each year, many of those during sports games or athletic training. Combined, all of those visits resulted in nearly $500 million spent on tooth replacements and treatments. If your athlete has a dental emergency in Richardson, it’s crucial to be prepared and equip them with important protective gear, like a customized mouthguard. Read on to learn the top three most common oral injuries that athletes are at risk of experiencing.

1. CRACKED TEETH

Cracked and fractured teeth can vary in severity and can occur when your athlete gets hit in the face by a body, ball, cleat, or anything that’s hard enough to cause damage. The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation estimates that athletes who don’t have protective mouthguards are over 60 times more likely to experience this dental emergency than those with sportsguards.

A cracked or fractured tooth can cause different long-term problems if it’s not treated immediately. In many cases, the damage can be so small that it’s impossible to even notice unless examined by a professional. That’s why it’s important to always get in touch with your emergency dentist for a checkup whenever you sustain oral damage that could impact the health of your smile.

2. KNOCKED-OUT TEETH

One of the most serious and time-sensitive dental emergencies that athletes face is a knocked-out tooth. This can occur due to trauma and force that is strong enough to break a tooth free of its socket, causing it to fall out of your favorite player’s mouth. If this ever occurs, it’s crucial to get to the emergency dentist as soon as possible to increase the chances that they’ll be able to re-plant the tooth back in its socket. If not, they may require a restoration, such as a dental bridge or implant-retained crown.

3. TOOTH INTRUSION

Many people are familiar with a knocked-out tooth emergency, but few know about tooth intrusions. This happens when a tooth is driven back into the jawbone. While it’s not as common as cracked or knocked-out teeth, it still happens to a small percentage of athletes. It’s more likely to happen to younger athletes that don’t have all of their permanent teeth yet, because their alveolar bones that hold the sockets of their teeth aren’t as hard and strong as an adult’s. Whenever this issue is left untreated, it can result in the roots of the tooth shortening or the tooth dying.

The best way to avoid a dental emergency in Richardson is to provide your young athlete with protection and always have the phone number of your local emergency dentist on-hand. If you’re concerned about your child’s safety while they’re out on the field, look into getting them a custom-fitted sportsguard that can help shield their mouth and prevent these three incidents from occurring.

About the Practice

At Breckinridge Dental & Orthodontics, our team consists of six dental professionals with ample experience under their belts. They’ve treated countless dental emergency situations over the years and always strive to see patients who are in pain as soon as possible. We also provide custom-crafted sportsguards for children and teens to help protect their smiles while they’re out on the field. For questions or to schedule an emergency appointment, visit our website or call 972-248-9119.