Visit a Dentist in Livermore if Your Teeth Become Damaged While Playing Sports

If you play sports, you should see a dentist in Livermore to make sure that your teeth and gums are in good health.  Most kids are required to get physicals in order to play sports, but adults typically don’t think about it.  The problem is that according to the American Dental Association, the number one reason that adults damage their teeth is playing sports.  Whether tossing the ball around with the kids, playing volleyball in the summer or football on Thanksgiving, teeth are often the victim of sports injuries.

As a dentist, we can help to protect your teeth so that while playing you can have fun without putting your teeth at risk.  It starts by making sure that your teeth are healthy.  If you have a cavity or gum disease, your teeth are more likely to become injured.  Think of it like a chair with a crack in it.  If you sit on it, the chair may support you but if your kids jump on it, the chair will probably break in two.  Your teeth are the same way.  When they are healthy, they are stronger and can withstand being occasionally hit by a football.  If, there is any existing damage, that same impact may make your tooth fall out or become severely cracked.

By scheduling a teeth cleaning twice a year, we can remove the bacteria that can lead to a cavity.  If you have any symptoms of gum disease or any infections, we can treat them right away and restore your tooth so that your teeth are strong and unlikely to become injured.  As a dentist in Livermore, we also recommend that people who play on a team wear a mouth guard.  This is a simple, preventative step towards avoiding tooth injuries.  Mouth guards are extremely common in sports like football, where they are a requirement.  In fact, over 200,000 student athletes are saved from injuries on an annual basis as a result of wearing them.  Most adults forgo this basic safety measure and teeth suffer as a result.

If you find yourself in a situation where your tooth has become damaged, call our office to schedule an appointment.  We can restore your tooth using a variety of techniques.  This includes dental implants, dental crowns, and dental veneers.  The solution we recommend will be based on the extent of the damage.  For example, dental veneers can be used to restore teeth that have been slightly cracked or chipped.  If a major crack exists or a large portion of the enamel has been knocked off, a dental crown is a better restorative solution.  If, however, a tooth has been knocked out these options will no longer be available and dental implants, a dental bridge, or dentures will be needed in order to replace the missing tooth.

As a dentist in Livermore, we treat patients that have suffered from all types of tooth injuries and can help to restore your teeth and your smile if this happens to you.