Dental trauma prevention with mouthguard in a nose fracturing blow to the face: Case report

Abstract

Orofacial injuries are common in sports activities and may vary in complexity and the tissues involved. Most sports-related trauma occurs when a player hits another player, an object or the ground. This report presents a case of an injury caused by a punchlike blow to the face during a handball college team practice session. The patient suffered a traumatic blow to the left side of the nose and mouth and promptly attended a dentist. After a clinical examination and a CBCT scan, the following injuries were diagnosed: upper lip laceration, upper left lateral incisor subluxation and anterior nasal spine fracture. More severe teeth injuries were likely prevented because the patient was wearing a mouthguard.

Influence of custom‐made and stock mouthguard thickness on biomechanical response to a simulated impact

“…This can be justified due to the roots' shape, bone thickness, position, and inclination in the arch. 4 The authors reported that more severe dental injuries were prevented because the patient was using a MG. This result is in agreement with previous investigations that conclude that the use of any protection is better than nothing, 25 nasal spine fracture.…”

“…10 When impacted, the energy absorption of a MG's material is produced by the distortion and recovery of the buccal protective material. 4 The most used test to evaluate the dampening capacity of MGs are experimental impact tests, in which a strain sensor is attached to the surface that will be analyzed and the region is punctually evaluated in several situations. 1,18 This experimental model is important to provide a punctually quantitative view of strain, but disregard other points that are not in contact with the sensor and may present important stresses to understand the mechanical failures during a trauma.…”

“…Nevertheless, in case of a sports accident in which an athlete used a custom-made buccal protector with appropriate occlusion and a thickness of four millimeters (similar to one of the simulated groups), the trauma will likely consist of an upper lip laceration, subluxation of the upper left lateral incisor and anterior nasal spine fracture. 4 The authors reported that more severe dental injuries were prevented because the patient was using a MG.…”

“…Thus, individualized/customized and stock MGs were simulated. When impacted, the energy absorption of a MG's material is produced by the distortion and recovery of the buccal protective material 4. A, Without mouthguard and absence of contact between teeth and teeth.…”

The use of mouthguards and prevalence of dento‐alveolar trauma among athletes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Contact sports are those in which participants establish direct physical contact with other players or objects, resulting in greater likelihood of trauma and injuries . Dento‐alveolar injuries such as tooth avulsion, fracture, subluxation, and intrusion demonstrate a significant prevalence in recent studies .…”