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Sports Dentistry

Published on 11/2/2023

SPORTS DENTISTRY

By: Laden Vakili, DMD | November 2, 2023

Physical activity is invaluable to a child’s development. It improves physical & mental health, reduces stress, builds social skills, and enhances critical thinking. Inevitably children will have accidents, and dental and facial injuries are common. The National Youth Sports Foundation for the Prevention of Athletic Injuries, Inc. estimates that during the season of play, athletes have a 10% chance of sustaining an injury to the face or mouth. At my pediatric dentist office, I have treated several children who have injured their teeth while playing sports.

Sports dentistry, one of the most recent and upcoming fields in dentistry, prevents and manages athletics-related orofacial injuries and associated diseases. Dental injuries range from soft tissue trauma and lacerations to tooth and bone fractures. The face is the most vulnerable body part and the most frequently injured in sports, but wearing protection for the face and dentition can often be bulky and limiting. We don’t see enough pediatric patients wearing mouth guards and other protective gear during group activities in part because it's often not strongly enforced by coaches and athletic directors.

There are 4 different types of protection:

Faceguards are cages attached to helmets or head straps. Faceguards and helmets have practically eliminated all orofacial injuries in contact sports. Full face shields have significantly reduced the risk of dento y t-facial injuries without increasing the risk of neck injuries or concussions.

Stock mouthguards are the most widely available and affordable type of mouth guard. It comes in small, medium, and large sizes at most drugstores or sporting goods stores and cover your top teeth. They can be bulky and uncomfortable to wear and can often be ill fitting and interfere with talking and even breathing easily.

Boil and bite mouthguards are made of a thermoplastic material, placed in boiling water to soften the material, then it is placed in the mouth (when it is a safe and a tolerable heat level) and molded using your fingers, gently biting and using face and lip muscles to properly adapt it.

Custom made mouthguards are fabricated by a dentist after taking a mold of the dentition and gums. These are the best fit and most comfortable to use. However, for younger children who are growing rapidly it will need to be remade every several months which can be time and cost prohibitive.

In conclusion it is important to encourage young athletes and children participating in group activities to wear some kind of orofacial protection, which is age appropriate and fits well. You can consult your dentist for advice and options based on your child’s needs.

Mouth Guard Care

Brush and floss your teeth before putting in your mouth guard.
Rinse your mouth guard with cool water or mouthwash before putting it in and after taking it out. Avoid using hot water, which can warp it.
Use a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean it after each use.
Store your mouth guard in a hard container with some ventilation to protect it and allow it to dry out between uses.
Regularly check for holes or other signs of wear and tear, which will indicate it needs to be replaced.
If you have a custom mouth guard, bring it to your dentist appointments. They can give it a professional cleaning and make sure it still fits properly.

www.gameonmouthguards.com

www.shockdoctor.com

www.trufitcustoms.com

Bibliography:

Sports dentistry by Rajiv Saini

Sports dentistry: A review by Naveen Kumar Ramagoni, Vijaya Kumar Singamaneni,¹ Saketh Rama Rao,² and Jamini Karthikeyan³

Sport and Dental Traumatology: Surgical Solutions and Prevention by Lorenzo Mordini,^1,* Po Lee,¹ Ricardo Lazaro,¹ Roberto Biagi,² and Luca Giannetti^³

Dr. Vakili started her education by receiving a bachelor of science in biochemistry from the University of Maryland, her doctorate in dental medicine from University of Pennsylvania, and her postdoctoral training in pediatric dentistry at Maimonides Medical Center, where she served as chief resident each year.
Dr. Vakili started her private practice in Manhattan and later moved to California to be closer to her family and was excited to settle into private practice in Marin County.

She is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, California Dental Association.

During her free time, Dr. Vakili enjoys spending time with her husband (who is also a dentist & Marin County native ) and her son. As a family you will find them exploring parks and trails in Marin. They also like to travel and cook together.