Sports dentistry is concerned with the prevention and treatment of dental injuries due to trauma, treatment of fractures and the correct balance of muscular forces present in the face.
It is intended to help protect the teeth, mouth, jaw and face at all ages. Injuries to the teeth and mouth are very common among athletes. It is important to protect the smile of professional athletes, amateurs and children, both for esthetic and health reasons.
The practice in this field is divided into three categories
Prevention of trauma injuries
Splints and masks
Treatment of impact fractures
With partial or complete loss of one or more teeth and with or without bone involvement.
Balancing of the muscular forces present in the face, head and neck.
For greater power and resistance. This is achieved by balancing the occlusion and in some cases using a splint to compensate the musculature.
The most common dental injuries in sports are:
Dental trauma
A strong blow to the mouth can cause one or more teeth to fall. In this case, time is the most important factor in saving the tooth, so it is key to go to the dentist as soon as possible. In general, there is a 30 minute window of opportunity to re-implant the tooth into the socket.
It is always advisable not to try to re-implant the tooth yourself.
The best liquid to transport a tooth is cold cow’s milk. If it is not available, saliva or saline can be used.
It is very important not to let the tooth dry out and not wrap it in anything. As far as possible, avoid touching the roots.
Chipped or cracked tooth
Trauma can also chip or crack a tooth. Sometimes the tooth can be fixed with just a filling. Although sometimes a tooth cracks or splinters in a way that affects the nerve of the tooth and more complicated treatment may be necessary.
Displaced tooth
If a tooth moves due to trauma, go to the dentist as soon as possible and do not try to move the tooth on your own.
For the prevention of injuries
One of the best ways to prevent injuries to the teeth and mouth of athletes and sports fans is to wear a mouth guard during practice.
There are several types of mouth guards to choose from, at MiravéCo Clinic we advise you to find the one that best meets your particular needs depending on the type of sport you practice.
ATM
The problems of the mandibular joint, which is the union between the jaw and the skull, can be due to causes internal or external to the joint itself.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) acts as a sliding hinge, connecting the jaw to the skull and due to different factors, such as genetics, arthritis or a jaw injury, it can become overloaded and cause problems.
The symptoms that can appear are also multiple and range from headaches, muscle aches, dizziness, tinnitus, joint noises, limitation of opening or lateral movements, to back pain and bruxism.
Its treatment seeks to find the causes of the dysfunction and act according to its origin, and can combine different techniques such as discharge splints, neural therapy, occlusal balancing, physiotherapy, osteopathy, functional rehabilitation, laser therapy and / or home therapy.
Our specialists in Sports Dentistry in Barcelona
Dr. Paco Miravé
