Tooth Replacements for Hockey Players

Question submitted by: Olivia:

My son won a spot on a collegiate hockey team. They met for a clinic this past weekend. During one of the training sessions, my son lost a tooth. The other teammates cheered, telling him he was “official” now. Meanwhile, I have a young man who is now mortified by how his smile looks. I did some research and found that dental implants are the best tooth replacement. We’ve got an appointment scheduled for next month. I have three questions. Since then, we’ve been told a dental implant is a bad idea for a hockey player, something about bone damage if he takes a direct hit. Second, if dental implants are a bad idea, what do you recommend to replace them? Third, if it is the right treatments, that is an awful long time for him to go without a tooth. Is there a way to improve his appearance?

Olivia

Dear Olivia,

I’m glad you wrote. It sounds like your son is a pretty tough nut. Your research is correct that a dental implant is the best tooth replacement. That being said, there is a legitimate concern of bone damage. Dental implants are placed into the bone, which then integrates with it. If he takes a direct hit to that tooth, the implant will likely be ripped out of the bone causing incredible damage.

Even with that knowledge, I still think you should get the implant placed. However, do not have the dental crown bonded to it. Instead, get a temporary tooth replacement to sit above the implant until his hockey career is done. Once he is safe from those sports injuries, you can bond the crown to the implant. I would get him a dental flipper for now. It’s inexpensive and will give him the appearance of having a full set of teeth. You don’t have to wait for your implant appointment in order to get him a dental flipper. I’d get that right away.

This blog is brought to you by Tucson Prosthodontist Dr. Howard Steinberg.