Have you ever wondered what you should do if you should have the misfortune of sustaining a dental injury while playing winter sports? This legitimate concern is addressed below.
Winter Sports Injuries and Dangers
During the winter season, your chances of being injured while playing a sport such as hockey are higher than at other times of the year. As professional hockey players will tell you, hockey is one of the most dangerous sports on earth. Players move at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour. The puck flies through space at nearly 100 miles per hour. Frontal collisions with other players are frequent occurrences. With all the momentum and speed involved in this and similar games, it is common for players to suffer dental injuries. Dentists estimate that nearly 15 percent of all dental injuries occur while playing sports. Nearly 80 percent of these injuries affect teeth in the area of the mouth shown while smiling.
Minor chips and cracks in a tooth are fairly easy to repair. Your dentist will use tooth-colored material to patch the damaged region. If your tooth is knocked out while you are playing a sport, it is often possible to replant it if you are able to get to the dentist within four hours.
Use Protective Gear
The use of sufficient protective gear while playing sports is crucial to ensuring the well-being of your choppers. According to statistics, the use of mouth guards can prevent more than 200,000 oral injuries every year.
The two main types of facial protection you should consider using are listed below.
- Mouth guards are an effective way to protect the lips, tongue and teeth. Optimally, you should obtain a custom-fit mouth guard from your dentist; this type of mouth guard fits more securely than a generic mouth guard from Wal-Mart.
- Helmets are extremely important for sports activities that involve high-speed or potential impact. Examples include hockey, inline skating, bike riding and football. Ensure that the helmet fits you correctly before each use.
After a dental injury, visit your dentist as soon as possible. If you are prompt, the tooth can typically be re-implanted and continue to live happily in your mouth.
After an Injury
If you are injured after playing winter sports this year you may need to seek help to get what you deserve from an insurance standpoint. You may also need to adjust your budget to compensate for the additional expenses you will incur while recovering from your injury. If your injury occurred through no fault of your own or if you are having trouble with your insurance company, you should consider enlisting the aid of a Kitchen SimesonBelliveau LLP personal injury attorney to help you obtain the monetary compensation you deserve.
Playing sports in the winter can be a risky pastime to pursue. Make sure you are safe as you go about your fun time and you will be sure to not only avoid injury but also enjoy yourself.
