Sports Dentistry

PowerPlay Sports Dentistry
Leonardo T. Fazio, DDS
www.powerplaysportsdentistry.com

What is Holistic Sports Dentistry?

Traditionally, Sport Dentistry has served to treat and prevent oral/facial athletic injuries and related diseases and manifestations. However, this injury / disease-focused treatment may be limited in its ability to allow the athlete to fully realize his or her healthy potential. The Holistic Sports Dentist is concerned not only with injury prevention and treatment, but is also aware of the direct or indirect impact that routine dental materials and procedures have on the Athlete’s mental & physical states.

Holistic Dentistry provides an integrative approach which takes into account many different considerations when determining a proper course of action. Holistic, or Biological Dentists employ a health-focused philosophy which acknowledges and respects the Oral-Systemic, or Tooth-Body connection. This relationship is significant in that injury and treatment of specific teeth, can, and do, have a direct impact on overall health and well-being. Proper diagnosis and corrective treatment is essential to both short-term and long-term health of the teeth and the body. Additionally, the Holistic Sports dentist will consider and evaluate jawbone / bite imbalances, which can have an impact on the entire cranio-sacral / skeletal complex. Also considered are the potential toxic effects that some commonly used dental materials can have on the athlete’s immune and musculo-skeletal systems. These include, but are not limited to, Mercury exposure from “silver” amalgam fillings (which are actually 40 – 50 % Mercury ), Nickel-based metal alloys used in crown and bridges, excessive Fluoride exposure, Root-canal treated teeth, poorly healed extraction sites ( Cavitations ), Periodontal gum infections, and tooth cavities. Properly diagnosing and correcting these potential stressors to the body can provide for more predictable athletic gains like increased physical strength and balance, improved hand-eye coordination, more efficient Oxygen-carrying capabilities ( vO2 max ), decreased performance anxieties, and enhanced recovery from injury or surgery.

In sports, the challenge is to maximize the benefits of participation, and to limit injuries. Holistic Sports Dentistry has a major role to play in this area. The Holistic Sports Dentist should be concerned with providing proper injury prevention strategies and dental education. Prevention and adequate preparation are key elements in minimizing injuries that occur in sports. Properly conditioned bodies, well-fitting protective equipment, and correct techniques for physical contact during competition can help minimize oral / facial injuries.

In some sports, injury prevention, through properly fitted mouthguards, is considered essential. Full-contact sports such as Football, Hockey, Lacrosse, Martial Arts, Boxing, and Rugby require mouthguards as standard equipment. The American Dental Association also recommends mouthguards be worn for traditional non-contact sports like Basketball, Baseball, Gymnastics, Soccer, Racquetball & Squash, Skiing, Sky diving, Water polo, Volleyball, Wrestling, Racquetball, Surfing, Weightlifting, Skateboarding, and Roller Blading should require properly fitted custom mouthguards, since dental injuries are an all-too-common consequence of participation in these sports.

It should be noted that dental injuries are the most common type of oral-facial injuries sustained during sports. An athlete whose tooth is knocked out during a game and does not receive the proper dental treatment may face a lifetime of dental costs estimated from $10-15,000.00 per tooth, many inconvenient hours in the dental chair, and possibly other dental problems. Properly fitted and sport-specific mouthguards are the single most effective way of minimizing the likelihood of severe dental and jawbone injury, as well as concussion. Additionally, some studies suggest that custom mouthguards may actually increase strength and power during play. Commonly used “boil-and-bite” mouthguards are inadequate, and offer minimal protection at best.

The Holistic Sports Dentist should also be able to provide timely and effective acute trauma care when injuries do occur. This can include treatment in the dental office setting, and also at the site of occurrence such as the Basketball Court, Baseball Diamond, Football Field, or Rugby Pitch. Knowledge and ability to do "on site" differential diagnosis is essential without the use of X-rays or dental operatories. This is critical to determine the future treatment and prognosis of the injury. Also, the need to rule out a head injury or concussion is crucial for determining whether the athlete needs to be transported to the hospital emergency room.

In addition to basic First Aid principles, Dr. Fazio can enhance healing and recovery through the use of complimentary Homeopathic and Herbal remedies. These remedies are safe and effective for use on athletes of all ages. They can help stimulate the body’s natural ability to heal itself, and to minimize the undesirable consequences of traumatic injury such as, swelling and stiffness. This can allow the athlete to return to the playing field sooner. Nutritional supplementation can also help in the Athlete's response following acute and chronic injury.

When injuries are severe enough and treatment plans include dental procedures like Root Canal Therapy, Posts & Crowns, Implants, Bridges, or even Tooth Bonding, Dr. Fazio's extensive knowledge and experience in Biocompatible Biological Dentistry can provide treatment options that maximize healing, recovery, function and Esthetics. The goal here is to minimize the potential negative impact on the body’s immune system that may occur as a result of commonly used dental materials and procedures. This is where the Oral-Systemic, tooth-body relationship comes in.  Similar to Acupuncture, in which life energy, called "chi", travels throughout the body along pathways called "meridians", Holistic dentists acknowledge that each tooth in the mouth is located on a specific meridian corresponding to areas in the body. (Please refer to the Dental-Acumeridian Chart). Taking this into account, decisions regarding treatment and long-term management of dental injuries must be made with care, as the repercussions can be profound.

Aside from traumatic injuries to teeth, other areas that Sports Dentists are concerned with include: Increased incidence of cavities due to consumption of acidic-high sugar sports drinks, smokeless tobacco, and signs and symptoms of anorexia and bulimia. Eating Disorders are more common then one might think in female athletes, and erosion patterns on teeth caused by gastric acids often help in the differential diagnosis of eating disorders. Referral to the proper healthcare professional shall be provided.

Dr. Fazio has formed an alliance with healthcare practitioners in the fields of Alternative / Integrative Medicine, Acupuncture, Naturopathy, Osteopathy-Cranio-Sacral Medicine, and Sports Psychology. In many cases, athletes can benefit from this multi-disciplinary approach to their care.

Preseason screenings and examinations are essential in preventing injuries. Examinations should include medical health histories, at-risk dental conditions, upper/ lower jaw relationships, orthodontics, loose teeth, crowns and bridgework, and the need for extraction of wisdom teeth. Extractions, specifically, should be done months before the sports season begins to allow complete healing. Not doing so could put the jaw at risk of fracture during competition. Determination of the need for a sport-specific type and design of custom mouthguard should also be made at this time.

As more research is being conducted, it is becoming more apparent that conditions affecting any part of the oral-dental complex can, and do, have an impact on an individual’s physical health. Comprehensive, multi-disciplinary strategies may provide the best solutions for establishing sound minds and bodies, which will allow any athlete to achieve his or her highest potential, both on and off the field of play.

Visit the Academy for Sports Dentistry website for more information

Leonardo T. Fazio, DDS
PowerPlay Sports Dentistry
Port Jefferson, NY
www.powerplaydental.com
631-474-7477
June, 2008

back to top