Staying active is great for both your physical and mental health. However, when you’re participating in sports, especially contact activities, you are much more likely to experience a dental emergency than those who do not. The good news is that modern dentistry is great for repairing all sorts of different dental problems. Continue reading to learn more from your emergency dentist in Indianapolis about the most common dental injuries that are sustained while playing sports.
Fractured Teeth
This happens most often when an athlete takes a blow to the face abruptly. A fractured tooth involves a crack or split that begins at the crown and extends downwards. Cracked teeth can vary significantly in severity and require dental treatment in order to prevent long term issues, like infections of the teeth. Here are some common symptoms of a fractured tooth:
- Sharp pain when biting down
- Pain that comes and goes
- Discomfort when consuming beverages and food (especially those that are hot and cold)
- Loss of section of tooth’s protective enamel
This type of injury isn’t always noticed right away. In some cases, your dentist may perform a root canal or extraction in order to prevent a bacterial infection from occurring later on.
Root Fractures
You probably head about fractures of the crown more often, but it is possible to crack the root of your tooth as well. If you receive a blow to the face at a certain angle, the root may fracture first. This can happen when a crack of the root travels in the direction of the chewing surface of the tooth. Since this type of dental injury is difficult to see with the naked eye, you may not even notice this has happened until you develop an infection. When this issue is found early on, it is often possible for your dentist to save it with root canal therapy.
Tooth Intrusion
In this case, a tooth is driven back into the jawbone. This is more common for kids with baby teeth because a child’s alveolar bones, which hold the tooth sockets in place, are not as strong. This injury can cause a variety of different issues such as the destruction of the tooth pulp, root resorption, and ankylosis, which is the fusion of the root of the tooth to the alveolar bone.
These issues can cause long-term oral health issues if they aren’t treated right away, so it’s important that you see a dentist if you suspect that you have a dental injury. Wearing a custom-made mouthguard from your dentist is a great way to prevent injuries before they occur. This way, you can stay active without having to worry about your smile.
About the Practice
At Indianapolis Family Dentistry, you have not one, but two experienced dentists who have been working in the field for over 35 years! Dr. Mark M. Farthing and Dr. Armin M. Tepner both earned their dental doctorates from the Indiana University School of Dentistry and are committed to continuing education to keep their knowledge and skills sharp. If you have experienced a dental injury, they would be happy to help. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (317) 898-3384.