No one participates in sports or recreational activities with the goal of oral or facial injury. However, the facts reveal two things: sports injuries are the number one cause, impacting thousands of adults and children annually and many of them can be prevented or at least minimized with education and the use of a properly fitted professional mouthguard.
In addition to the obvious negative of the physical injury to the mouth and face, oral-facial injuries can also be both emotional and psychological. And while these injuries can occur due to a multitude of reasons, a recent study found that approximately 25% occur while playing sports. The following poignant facts should raise your awareness of dental injuries.
Did you know…?
- On average, 22,000 dental injuries occur annually in children under the age of 18.
- Outdoor activities and products are associated with the largest number of dental injuries to baby (primary) teeth in children aged 7 to 12 with 50% of these incidents related to bicycle accidents.
- Outdoor activities and products are also associated with the largest number of dental injuries to permanent teeth in adolescents aged 13 to 17.
- Of all sports, baseball and basketball consistently produce the largest number of dental injuries each year.
- Over 80% of all dental injuries involve the upper front teeth.
- Age, gender, condition and position of the teeth, as well as the type of sport being played are all key risk factors associated with the likelihood of experiencing a sports injury.
- Studies show that teenage boys involved in contact sports, collision sports, and high-velocity non-contact sports are at the highest risks for dental injuries.
- Young girls are starting to participate in many of these same sports, and thus their risks for injuries are climbing.
- Home furniture is the main culprit in over 50% of the dental injuries in children under the age of 7.
We encourage you to take a moment to assess your own as well as your family’s risk of dental injury and to think about how you can treat and prevent them. To learn more, read the Dear Doctor article, “An Introduction To Sports Injuries & Dentistry.†Or, feel free to contact us to discuss your questions or to schedule a consultation.