Even though the fair play is one of the essential principles in sports, some uncomfortable situations tend to happen. We are talking about sports injuries. Unfortunately, this is something that almost every day, on every pitch.
These are not comfortable both for those who experience this injury and those who witness it. That’s why it is always important to have precautions in mind. The commonest ones are dental and facial injuries. For instance, roughly five million teeth are lost every year under these circumstances.
Furthermore, ten percent of all athletes suffer a facial injury every season. Fortunately, avoiding a vast majority of these is possible. Now, we want to talk about sports medicine and the most widespread wounds that occur as a result of harsher clashes.
Potential Risks
Without any doubt, a vast majority of injuries do not occur intentionally. Nevertheless, they can be harmful. In fact, even the lightest of clashes can impose significant harm. Facial and dental injuries can cause substantial esthetic, psychological, and functional effects, no matter the age. Thankfully, they are rarely life-threatening. Still, the recovery process can be lengthy and costly reliant on the damage.
Facial Fractures
There is practically no sports discipline where facial injuries cannot occur. The patient interview is crucial for determining the severity of these injuries. It is necessary because it will help rule out the concussion. Still, screening is an absolute must. That way, doctors can determine whether there is some invisible damage. It is never possible to establish the appropriate diagnosis without thorough examination.
Facial fractures management depends on two major factors, severity, and location. The reason why these can be quite dangerous is that they can inflict further damage. The location around the orbit can cause eye damage, while nasal fractures, can cause a lot of breathing problems. The healing process in these cases usually lasts for up to two months on average.
Presuming that coaches and players can provide first aid to someone who has suffered this sort of injury is a little bit unrealistic. Thankfully, there are a couple of simple rules that can stabilize a player until the medical team arrives on the field. To prevent these injuries, both players and referees need to establish a criterion that will not motivate tough clashes.
Dental Injuries
In most cases, dental injuries, although uncomfortable, will not cause further problems. However, they can inflict additional harm. For example, they can harm gums, tongue, cheeks, palate, etc. Since we’re talking about a part of our bodies that’s constantly wet, the recovery time tends to be quite long. Not to mention that there is a possibility of infection that can spread if there’s no treatment.
Root Damage
Fractured roots mean that the crack starts at the bottom of the tooth, from the root canal, and it goes to the top. The problem with these cracks is that they will remain invisible until a detailed examination. If not, there is a chance of infection development. These situations require a therapy known as root canal therapy, which will prevent the start of the infection and potential spreading.
Tooth Imposition
Usually, dental injuries cause cracks, but it can happen that teeth will suffer imposition. If the blow is too hard, it can dive them into the jawbone. In medical books, you will find it as an intrusion. It is crucial to point out that these cases are more common among children who still have baby teeth. Still, this can happen to adults under some circumstances.
Broken Tooth
Receiving a blow in the face can result in a tooth fracture. Usually, a small portion will get broken. But, a strike under a certain angle can cause it quite easily. Small cracks are relatively easy to take care of. However, bigger damage will require more complex medical procedures. Missing a tooth is not a pleasant thing to experience. One of the most obvious solutions to this problem, dental implants, can serve as a substitute for a missing tooth.
Prevention
Preventing all these injuries is possible. We are talking about wearing protective gear. Sure, a majority of sports do not allow these on the pitch. At the very least, athletes should wear them on training. You would be surprised to hear how many of these issues occur during training sessions. To make this gear more effective, it needs to fit perfectly with those who wear it. For example, wearing pieces like face masks and eye covers can reduce the risks significantly.
In Conclusion
Injuries are common in every sports discipline. There is practically no way to prevent them for good. Fortunately, we can see some treatments can help in these cases quite efficiently. Sports medicine is one of the most advanced branches of this industry. So, nobody should be surprised why there is a solution practically to every problem that can arise.
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