Blog

Keith Yandle is a professional hockey goalie for the New Jersey Devils. He is one of the best goalies in the league, and he plays every game like it's his last. Recently, Keith suffered a dental injury that requires extensive treatment. Keith recently posted a photo of his tooth on Instagram. It shows a missing tooth, and Keith's caption reads, "Tooth at the Wells Fargo Center". Keith's injury occurred on March 12th, 2019, during a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. While on the ice, Keith collided with Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov's stick struck him in the mouth, knocking out one of his top front teeth. Keith was rushed to the dentist, but he explained, "I had to go to the emergency room. Like, it was bad. So, I had to get that taken care of. But, yeah, it's getting there. It's a process." 

Keith later posted another photo of his teeth during dental surgery. The caption reads, "Just another 3 hours in the chair! Getting a root canal." Hockey goalies are very prone to dental injuries, and Keith is no stranger to dental issues. He has previously had to repair two broken teeth, and he has suffered several painful dental injuries. Keith said, "I've had a lot of dental injuries, so I've definitely had my fair share. But, you know, I play through it. It's one of those things. It's part of the game."

What Is a Dental Trauma?

Dental trauma is damage to the teeth, mouth, or gums that results from an accident, sports injury, or another physical impact. Depending on the severity of the trauma, a tooth can be cracked, chipped, fractured, dislodged, or even knocked out altogether. Any of these symptoms requires immediate medical attention because delaying treatment could lead to permanent tooth loss. If you have been in an accident or have sustained a serious blow to the face or mouth, schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible.

If you have suffered dental trauma, your dentist may discuss a few treatment options with you. For minor damage, such as a small chip or crack, he or she may opt for a dental filling to repair it. However, if the tooth is damaged beyond repair, an extraction may be necessary to prevent the damaged tooth from causing additional problems in the future. Most patients who require a tooth extraction now choose dental implants, which look and function like natural teeth and can last a lifetime with proper care.

As your dentist will tell you, wearing a mouthguard while playing sports is a simple way to prevent oral injuries. Your dentist can make a custom-fitted mouthguard that will protect your teeth from injury. Kids and adults alike can benefit from mouthguards during sports and other physical activities.

Please reach out to our dental practice in Mission Viejo, CA, to have a consultation with our dentist, Dr. Lee, or call us at (949) 380-0315.