A Guide to Sports With Highest Rate of Dental Injuries
Playing sports is an exciting way to stay active, healthy, and competitive, but it can also expose athletes to various injuries. One of the most common, yet often overlooked, is the sports-related dental injury. Across the United States, players in contact sports experience a significant number of dental injuries each year, ranging from minor chips to serious orofacial injury.
Knowing which sport has a higher rate of dental injuries helps athletes take the right steps to protect their smiles. This guide explores the sports most associated with dental trauma, how mouth guards prevent injury, and when to seek help from an Emergency Dentist in Newnan.
Understanding Sports-Related Dental Injuries
A dental injury in sport refers to any damage to the teeth, gums, or surrounding tissues during athletic activity. These can include:
- Chipped or fractured teeth
- Crown fractures (breaks in the visible part of the tooth)
- Soft tissue injuries like cuts to the lips, cheeks, or tongue
- Tooth displacement or avulsion, where the tooth is completely knocked out
These orofacial injuries are particularly common in contact sports, where physical collisions are frequent. Without protective equipment, even a small impact can cause major dental trauma that affects permanent teeth.
Which Sports Have the Highest Rate of Dental Injuries
Across the United States, research supported by American Dental associations shows that contact sports carry the highest risk for dental injury. The most commonly affected sports include football, basketball, hockey, boxing, and field hockey.
- Basketball: A leading source of orofacial injury, largely because most players do not wear athlete’s mouthguards or facial protection.
- Football: Despite helmets and pads, soft tissue injuries and crown fractures still occur due to high-impact tackles.
- Hockey and Boxing: These sports involve powerful blows, sticks, and pucks that often cause severe dental trauma.
- Field Hockey: With fast-moving balls and sticks, this sport presents a major risk for chipped or broken teeth.
Even non-contact sports like baseball, soccer, and gymnastics can cause dental injury in sport when players skip wearing proper protective gear.
Why Contact Sports Pose the Greatest Danger
Contact sports combine speed, strength, and unpredictability, all factors that increase the chance of dental trauma. A misplaced elbow, hard collision, or flying object can easily damage the teeth or mouth.
In pediatric dentistry, children and teens are particularly vulnerable since their permanent teeth are still developing. Many young athletes present with chipped or broken teeth after organized sport events due to inadequate protective gear.
The Importance of Mouth Guards
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to reduce the risk of sports-related dental injury is to wear a mouth guard. These devices act as a cushion to absorb impact and protect both teeth and soft tissues.
There are several types of mouth guards available:
- Boil and Bite Mouthguards: Sold over the counter and molded at home. Affordable but often poorly fitting.
- Custom Fitted Mouthguards: Professionally designed by a dentist for optimal comfort and protection.
- Athletes Mouthguards: Specifically made for players who participate in contact sports, offering better stability and airflow.
According to the American Dental Association, athletes who use custom mouthguards are significantly less likely to experience dental trauma or soft tissue injuries compared to those who don’t wear them.
Why Custom Mouthguards Offer Better Protection
A custom fit mouthguard is tailored to your bite, ensuring comfort and security during play. Unlike boil-and-bite options, custom guards stay in place, don’t lose shape, and allow normal breathing and speaking.
In sport dentistry, custom mouthguards are considered essential protective equipment for athletes of all ages. Their benefits include:
- Preventing crown fractures and chipped teeth
- Reducing jaw impact and minimizing pain
- Protecting gums and soft tissues from injury
- Ensuring better long-term oral health
For young athletes in organized sports, parents should prioritize custom fitted mouthguards as part of their proper protective gear.
How to Prevent Sports-Related Dental Injuries
To reduce the likelihood of a dental injury in sport, athletes can follow these prevention tips:
- Always wear protective equipment, including helmets and mouth guards.
- Visit a dentist regularly for custom mouthguard fittings and dental exams.
- Keep good oral hygiene to maintain strong enamel.
- Encourage young athletes in pediatric dentistry programs to use custom fitted mouthguards consistently.
- Replace worn or damaged custom mouthguards before each new season.
When to Visit an Emergency Dentist
If a tooth gets cracked, broken, or knocked out during a game, contact an Emergency Dentist in Newnan immediately. Acting fast, ideally within 30 minutes, can be the difference between saving and losing the tooth.
Hold the tooth by the crown (not the root), rinse it with milk or saline if dirty, and try to reinsert it into the socket. If that’s not possible, keep it moist in milk or inside your cheek until you reach the dentist. Quick, careful action increases your chances of keeping your natural tooth intact.
Conclusion
So, which sports have the highest rate of dental injuries? The answer: contact sports like football, basketball, hockey, boxing, and field hockey. These activities lead to the highest rates of sports-related dental injury, but using custom mouthguards, protective equipment, and sport dentistry services can drastically reduce your risk.
Whether you’re a professional athlete or a weekend player, safeguarding your smile should be part of your game plan. If an accident occurs, visit an Emergency Dentist in Newnan right away to protect your permanent teeth and restore your oral health.
