The prevention and treatment of oral and facial athletic injuries and other related oral diseases constitutes the branch of Sports Dentistry. The dental health of every sports participating population of any nation is of immense importance and it is a challenge to limit injuries during such participation and gain more benefits. Sports Dentistry exactly helps in doing so.
Certain factors can minimize the incidence of injuries during sports which include adequate preparation, and taking some precautionary measures. Safe playing grounds, the purchase and maintenance of appropriate equipment and gear and injury tackling techniques are some aspects to be considered to avoid injuries/facial traumas during sport activities.
Sports Dentistry is not just limited to the use of mouth guards. Mouth guards are very vital to avoid injuries during sports. Unfortunately dental injuries are a widely prevailing negative aspect in some contact sport events like martial arts, boxing, hockey and football. Not limiting to just contact sports events, non contact sports like bicycle riding, soccer, surfing, skate boarding, basketball and wrestling also need properly fitting mouth guards during participation.
A victim of partial or complete tooth avulsion whose tooth is not preserved properly will have to face a lifelong trauma of the long hours spent in a dental chair associated with many oral injuries/dental problems plus the heavy dental costs availed during these dental sessions.
Certain oral or facial injuries occurring during the sport event may need immediate attention and first aid treatment at the site of the sports field or ground. A dentist may not have all the conveniences required at that particular moment and so he must be able to carry the diagnosis with the use of certain dental operatories and radiographs to determine the future course of treatment of the injury.
Certain detailed preseason screenings and examinations are other aspects of Sports Dentistry. These screenings are very vital and need to be carried out months before the actual competitions to enable the participating fraternity to maintain strong jaws and good dental health during the events. Such examinations include health history, diagnosis of caries, loose teeth, crown and bridge work, artificial teeth, missing teeth, orthodontics, dentition if any and possible extractions if any. All this will help to determine the prescription of a specific and suitable mouth guard to the participants.
Athletes should be educated about the incapacity of mouth guards bought from sport stores. Such mouth guards may not suit the individual peculiarities of dentition of the different participating athletes. Good Mouth guards come in four varieties and they are Stock, Boil and Bite, Vacuum custom made and lastly the Pressure laminated custom made Guards. Hence a qualified sports dentist will be the best person to recommend a suitable Mouth Guard.
Sports Dentistry also recognizes certain non dental related injuries which may occur along with dental injuries. Head and neck injuries, cerebral concussion and drugs are some cases of non dental injuries which need immediate medical attention. Sports Dentistry also diagnoses symptoms of Anorexia and Bulimia in women athletes during dental examinations. Such athletes can be suitably referred to the appropriate health professionals.
