Dental Health

Sports Dentistry

Dental trauma in sports is a major link between the sports and dentistry. Violence, traffic accidents, and sporting activities together have contributed to the establishment of traumatic dental injuries as a public dental health problem. Sports dentistry mainly concerns with the prevention of oral/facial athletic injuries and related oral diseases and manifestations. It has two major aspects: First is the treatment of orofacial injuries and the second is the prevention of sports-related orofacial injuries. To provide suitable care, a dentist must be knowledgeable and adept in the areas of oral surgery, endodontics, operative dentistry, orthodontics, hospital dentistry, and patient behavior management. The sports or team dentist assists and helps athletes in the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of oral injuries.

Most of the dental traumas encountered during sports are luxation injuries to tooth, avulsion, fracture of the facial bones, and concussion injuries. Prevention of these injuries during sports is important. Dental injuries are the most common type of orofacial injury sustained during participation in sports. Most athletes are not aware of the health implications due to a traumatic injury to the mouth or of the potential for incurring severe head and orofacial injuries while playing. The dentist can play a crucial role in informing athletes, coaches and patients about the importance of preventing orofacial injuries in sports. 

Preventive aspects during sports have changed the incidence of occurrence of these injuries to the athlete. The preventive measures like usage of helmets, mouth guards, and other protective gears have reduced the impact on the athlete, thereby reducing the injuries. Paediatric dentist must work in close association with the teachers, coaches/trainers, parents, and other health professional to ensure comprehensive dent-facial care.