[Sports and orofacial injuries]

Abstract

Many people enjoy sports, it is healthy and relaxing. There is, however, an inherent risk of sustaining injuries and fractures of the maxillofacial skeleton. Adequate diagnostics and treatment are mandatory to minimize the possible long-term consequences of injuries. Dentists may become primary involved in the diagnosis of such traumas, particularly when injuries are limited to the orofacial region. In addition, they can play an important role in caring for sportsmen with orofacial injuries, for instance by endodontic, restorative, and prosthodontic treatments. This paper discusses the assessment and treatment of fractures of the mandible, the zygoma, the mid-face, the orbital bones, the nose, and the frontal sinus. The assessment must followed by treatment as soon as possible. Treatment options of orofacial fractures are conservative treatment by exercising and/or oral splints and surgical reposition, either or not using osteosynthetic materials.