Dental Trauma: Causes, Risks, and Prevention

Common Causes of Dental Injuries

• Accidents/falls/sports/traffic collisions/assaults – direct impact causing fractures, chips, displacement.
• Biting hard objects – ice, hard candy, bones.
• Contact sports – hockey, boxing, basketball, martial arts.
• Bruxism (teeth grinding/clenching) – excessive force leads to cracks, wear.
• Falls/trips – especially landing on face/mouth.
• Improper dental work – faulty fillings, crowns, excessive tooth reduction.
• Sudden temperature changes – very hot then cold drinks cause thermal stress cracks.
• Childhood habits – thumb sucking, prolonged pacifier use causing misalignment.
• Chewing non-food items – pens, pencils, fingernails.

Prevention Tips

• Wear mouthguards during sports.
• Avoid chewing ice/hard objects.
• Address bruxism with a night guard.
• Regular dental check-ups.
• Discourage harmful oral habits in children.