From the Research
Checking for dental bridging is crucial to clear a patient for sports participation because it helps prevent potential choking hazards, oral injuries, and damage to the dental work and natural teeth. When a dental bridge becomes loose or breaks during sports, it can be aspirated or swallowed, leading to serious medical emergencies, as highlighted in various studies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The most recent and highest quality study, published in 2023, found that dental injuries were a small proportion of all injuries sustained by high school athletes, but the majority of these injuries occurred when the athlete was not wearing a mouthguard 5. Key points to consider when evaluating dental bridging in athletes include:
- The risk of dental injury during sports participation, particularly in contact sports
- The importance of proper evaluation and maintenance of dental bridges to prevent dislodgement or damage
- The recommendation for custom-fitted mouthguards to provide additional protection for athletes with dental bridges
- The need for regular dental check-ups to monitor the stability and integrity of dental work throughout sports participation. Overall, prioritizing the evaluation and protection of dental bridges is essential to ensure the safety and well-being of athletes during sports participation, as it can help prevent serious medical emergencies and reduce the risk of oral injuries.