September 2013 Practice Newsletter

A few years ago, an American dental newsletter published what seemed like an unusual story. A boy snagged his teeth on a basketball net while doing a slam-dunk. A freakish accident? Not quite. After the article appeared, nearly 40 dentists wrote in with their own stories. They all told of would-be Michael Jordans who sacrificed their front teeth in pursuit of the perfect dunk.

In older children and adults, s
ports injuries are common. Dentists estimate that between 13% and 39% of dental injuries occur while playing sports.

Basic Protection

Many dental traumas can be helped- even if the tooth is knocked out- if you get to a dentist quickly enough.  However, prevention is better than cure, so if you or your children enjoy sports or other high-risk activities, protect yourself. 

Depending on the sport, two types of protection are available:

• 
  Helmets – A helmet is a must for activities that involve speed or impact. These include lacrosse, skiing and bike riding. The helmet should fit correctly. It should also be appropriate for the sport you are playing.
• Mouthguards – Wearing a mouth guard is one of the best ways to prevent injury to your teeth, tongue and lips. A custom-fit mouthguard from your dentist is recommended. This type of mouth guard usually fits better than a ready-made one (found in sporting-goods stores). That means it may protect your teeth better.

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