The Need for Sports Dentistry
There is a misconception related to sports dentistry. Many people believe that it exists in order to simply help athletes and sportsmen achieve a winning smile for the front pages of magazines and newspapers. In reality, sports dentistry plays a much larger role than providing these players a pretty set of pearly white teeth.
Sports dentistry practitioners also play another important role in identifying and curtailing the dangerous behaviors of athletes. These behaviors can include eating disorders associated with wrestlers ‘cutting-weight’, extending to tobacco abuse by baseball players. Many times athletes engage in activities that are counterproductive, which can be easily identified and brought to light by a trained sports dentist.
The Academy of Sports Dentistry
Founded in the year 1983, the Academy for Sports Dentistry, which is located in Texas, is the very first of its kind. It is comprised of a specialized team of professionals including dentists, technicians, physicians as well as athletic trainers.
Currently there are around 600 members of the Academy worldwide, including dentistry related professionals along with sports coaches, students and educators. Members discuss new developments and implementations in the world of dentistry, while striving to prevent and protect athletes from facial injuries.
It has been observed that majority of sports require the players to wear mouth guards, and yet these players still sustain injuries to the facial region. The aim of the academy is to maximize participation by minimizing the chances of injury during the sporting events.
Aspects of Sports Dentistry
Research
The most important aspect of sports dentistry is the constant and relentless research being carried out by members globally in order to derive ways to minimize injuries during sports. According to the Academy of Sports Dentistry, the prevention of facial and head injuries during sports helps to enable maximum participation.
Education
Another important aspect is spreading awareness and educating people associated with sports. This aspect is critical to ensure that athletes, coaches and students have ample knowledge of injury prevention techniques, safety methods and the correct usage of items that can help prevent oro- facial injuries.