Try though you might, you can never fully anticipate when a dental emergency will occur. They can happen to anyone of any age, gender, or walk of life- but athletes are particularly at risk. Participating in physical activities in close contact with others can lead to several types of oral injuries that might land you in the dentist’s chair.
While you can’t keep these events from occurring, you can do your best to prepare for them. Acting quickly in urgent situations can make all the difference when it comes to saving your smile. With that in mind, keep reading to learn 3 common dental emergencies that athletes face and how they’re treated!
Emergency #1: Tooth Intrusion
When you think about dental emergencies, you might imagine a broken or dislodged tooth. However, it’s also possible to sustain an injury that drives them back into your jawbone. This trauma is known as an intrusion, and it can put your dental health at risk by:
- Infecting or destroying the tender nerves inside your tooth.
- Causing a resorption process that shortens the length of the roots.
- Fusing your tooth’s root to your alveolar bone, causing ankylosis.
Depending on the extent of the damage, oral surgery or other endodontic therapy might be required to fix the problem.
Emergency #2: Cracked Teeth
One of the most common emergencies that athletes face is chipped or fractured teeth. Whether it’s a result of grinding your teeth subconsciously during workouts or because you took a blow to the face, it can be both painful and dangerous. This kind of damage compromises the structure of your tooth and leaves it more vulnerable to additional harm. Plus, toxic bacteria can more readily penetrate the pulp inside your tooth to cause infection.
You’ll need to call your dentist as soon as you suspect that there’s a problem. Some cracks are too small to be seen by the naked eye, but your provider has the training and equipment to identify and treat them. They can apply composite resin to fill or mend it if they catch it early enough. If it goes unnoticed or unaddressed, you could eventually need a root canal to remedy it. In extreme cases, it may need to be extracted and replaced to avoid hurting your gums or jawbone.
Emergency #3: Fractured Roots
It’s possible to take a blow to the face at just the right angle that creates a crack in the roots rather than starting at the tip of your tooth. Because it exists below the gumline, you might not know there’s a fracture until it becomes infected. If you don’t get professional help to protect and preserve your tooth with a root canal, you could experience necrosis in your tooth that eventually causes it to fall out.
Thankfully, many dental emergencies that athletes experience can be prevented by wearing a mouthguard. Your dentist can provide you with a customized fit to safeguard your smile during physical activities.
About the Practice
At Pleasant Grove Family Dentistry, people of all ages benefit from two dentists who work together to offer a wide array of services under one roof. With 15+ years of combined experience, they can help with everything from basic preventative care to more complex procedures. They utilize state-of-the-art equipment to provide the most current treatments, so you know you can trust that you’re getting the best services available. Plus, they offer same-day visits, so if you’ve had an emergency, you don’t have to wait to be seen. If you’re in an urgent situation, you can request an appointment on the website or by calling (903) 838-9700.