{"id":343,"date":"2022-04-24T21:45:55","date_gmt":"2022-04-24T21:45:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.laithdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=343"},"modified":"2022-05-12T21:46:18","modified_gmt":"2022-05-12T21:46:18","slug":"common-dental-emergency-for-athletes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.laithdentistry.com\/blog\/2022\/04\/common-dental-emergency-for-athletes\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Common Dental Emergencies for Athletes?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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You see a lot of athletes wearing mouthguards, and the stats support that decision. After all, nearly half of all dental injuries are sports-related. Athletes are among the people at greatest risk of facing a dental emergency. About one out of every 10 players on a team will incur a dental or facial injury in a given season. Decades ago, it may have been viewed as inevitable, but these days people are more aware of the serious long-term health issues that can arise due to oral injuries. Keep reading to learn common examples of what can happen while playing sports from your emergency dentist in San Antonio<\/a>, as well as how you can prevent them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Fractured Roots<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you sustain a blow at a certain angle, it could cause a fractured root. In these instances, a crack begins at the root level and extends upward to the tooth\u2019s crown. Because fractured roots are often invisible, athletes only realize they have one when an infection develops. Patients may need root canal therapy to prevent the infection from spreading to the pulp \u2013 otherwise, it could lead to tooth loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tooth Intrusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rather than knocking a tooth out, some sports injuries can drive a tooth back into<\/em> the jawbone. This type of injury is referred to as an intrusion and is usually more common in baby teeth. However, it can happen to athletes of all ages! Tooth intrusion can lead to other complications, including the destruction of the tooth pulp, root resorption (shortening of the roots), and ankylosis (fusion of the injured tooth\u2019s root to the alveolar bone).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cracked Teeth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Always be careful when participating in sports that involve balls, bats, or physical contact. One blow to the face could easily result in a cracked or fractured tooth. If the tooth shows cracks that appear across it, they\u2019re called \u201ccraze lines\u201d and don\u2019t necessarily pose a threat to your oral health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if the crack begins at the tooth\u2019s chewing surface and extends downward, it\u2019s considered a cracked tooth. With that, you might experience the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n