Sports Dentistry

Dentistry has several specialties and one of them is sports dentistry. Some specialists in dentistry only focus on oral surgery or perform root canals within their communities. Many dentists specialize in gum health while others focus solely on pediatric dentistry. Another specialty that people are not aware of is sports dentistry which is vital for everyone involved in sports.

What Is Sports Dentistry and Who Are the Practitioners?
General dentists and pediatric dentists are both practicing sports dentistry as well. The objective of a specialist in this field is to help athletes prevent dental damage when they are engaged in their favorite activities. They are also involved in treating athletes that regularly end up with dental emergencies.

The Type of Injuries Encountered by Athletes
Athletes are regularly visiting dentists for broken or fractured teeth, knocked out teeth, or damage to the soft tissue. You may believe these injuries are common with football players or boxers as they are regularly taking impacts on their mouths and need treatment from a sports dentist. These athletes indeed frequent dentists for treatment of their injuries but they are in no way the only ones that do so. Any athlete involved in any type of contact sports needs the help of a sports dentist because all are exposed to the risks of injuries. Perhaps the most common problem encountered by athletes is losing a tooth which happens when they are hit in the face by a ball resulting in the tooth breaking off and popping out completely.

Why Is Sports Dentistry Important for the Dental Health of Athletes?
Fortunately, sports dentistry in Phoenix, AZ, can help with every dental emergency athletes can encounter. They can also help athletes in the prevention of oral dental injuries by using the following methods:

Treating a Fractured Tooth
A fractured tooth can be treated by using three different methods.

Minimal damage can be repaired by bonding the tooth.
A crown can be provided to encase the tooth if the damage is significant or may also indicate a root canal.
If the fracture has damaged the root the tooth will need to be extracted and replaced with implants.