Risk Factors Related to Dental Injuries
When people think about the possible dental injuries that can occur, several different types merit discussion. It is essential for people to understand that injuries to the dental region impact not only their ability to eat but also their ability to breathe, speak, and swallow. Therefore, people should understand the various types of possible traumatic injuries and their implications for quality of life issues down the road. Possible dental injuries include:Loss of Teeth: The most common dental injury is damage or loss of one or more teeth. In addition to using teeth to chew, eat, and swallow, the teeth also add structure to the face, impacting someone's appearance. The teeth are also important in articulating certain letters and sounds. When teeth are lost, there are several treatments, including implants, veneers, and caps.
Nerve Damage: Many nerves feed the gums and teeth that allow an individual to feel what is going on in their mouth in addition to providing a motor function to eating and speaking. Damage to the nerves in the mouth can lead to chronic pain and could require the attention of an experienced oral surgeon.
Jaw Damage: It is not uncommon for someone to suffer a mandible fracture or damage to the lower jaw. If the jaw is broken, patients will experience severe pain with any movement of the jaw, including eating, speaking, and swallowing. Treatment could include wiring of the jaw in addition to surgical fixation of the broken bone fragments.
Maxilla Fracture: Dental injuries also include fractures of the maxilla or the upper jaw. While the lower jaw functions as a hinge, the maxilla is attached to the rest of the facial bones. Fractures to the maxilla can also lead to significant ancillary injuries, such as a broken nose or other facial fractures. These could require surgery to correct depending on the severity of the injury.
Risk Factors Related to Dental Injuries: A Literature Review
A recent medical report was published detailing the various risk factors involved in traumatic dental injuries and the activities that place people at risk of suffering from these injuries. If people are aware of the different behaviors that increase the chances of dental injuries, perhaps they can be avoided before they occur. Examples of possible risk factors include:Diet: Specifically, researchers targeted deprivation of certain nutrients as increasing the risk of dental damages. The teeth need specific nutrients, such as calcium and fluoride, to remain strong. Without these nutrients, the teeth are made weaker and more prone to breaking or falling out with injuries.
Motor Vehicle Accidents: If people are involved in a car accident, they are prone to suffering from dental injuries. If occupants aren't wearing their seatbelts (or wearing only a lap belt), the movement of the head is exacerbated by impact, possibly leading to serious dental and facial injuries.
Sports: Those who play contact sports should make sure that they wear a mouth guard because without the guard, they are prone to suffering severe dental injuries upon collisions with other athletes or the ground. Sports such as basketball, soccer, football, and lacrosse are at particular risk of dental injuries.
Assault: Those who are the targets of physical aggression are prone to suffering dental trauma with a fist, gunshot, baseball bat, or other blunt objects.
Watch YouTube Video: Prevent Dental Injuries Using Mouth Guards. This video explains the importance of using a mouth guard to prevent dental injuries.
Moving Forward with Prevention of Dental Injuries
Armed with the knowledge of how dental injuries can occur, the patient must take steps to prevent these injuries from happening. Dental insurance can be a tricky subject and those who require extensive treatment could wind up being asked to pay for extreme medical and dental costs as a result. Those who have developed their injuries as a result of a traumatic accident could find a consultation with a lawyer helpful. People should take steps to explore all of their options before making any decisions on what to do regarding their dental costs.Photo by Daniel Frank from Pexels
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