If you or your children play contact sports, consider a sports guard an essential part of the uniform. Just like you wouldn’t ride a bike without a helmet or go for a run without the right sneakers, playing without a sports guard leaves your teeth and gums vulnerable to trauma and dental injuries every time you step onto the court or field.
At the Center for Implant & Esthetic Dentistry, located in Beverly Hills, California, our periodontist Dr. Ramin Mahallati and our dentistry team offer custom-made sports guards so you can enjoy the activities you love worry-free!
Broken or knocked-out teeth are just one of the risks of playing sports without a sports guard (also known as a mouth guard). Depending on the impact and type of injury, a sports injury can also cause cuts and lacerations to your lips, gums, tongue, and cheeks. Furthermore, trauma can also cause internal damage to a tooth and result in nerve damage. When that happens, a root canal might be necessary to remove the damaged nerve tissue and save the tooth.
Any athletic activity has the potential for an accident or injury, but some sports are more likely to put you or your children at risk for a dental injury:
If you or your children play contact sports, you should definitely use a sports guard to protect your teeth and gums from the impact of a collision or fall. All it takes is an elbow to the jaw or a stray baseball to cause potentially serious injuries to your teeth, gums, and jaw.
The most common types of sports-related dental injuries include:
Keep in mind that even non-contact and low-impact sports and physical activities like cycling, running, and swimming aren’t 100% risk-free when it comes to potential impact and dental trauma. Falling and hitting the ground can cause as much damage to your teeth and gums as getting hit by another person or a piece of sports equipment.
Dr. Mahallati and our team will discuss your options with you and help you determine your risk levels and whether a custom sports guard is right for you or your children.
For more information about custom sports guards and how they can protect you from common sports-related dental injuries, contact the Center for Implant & Esthetic Dentistry to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mahallati at our office in Beverly Hills.
