You won’t necessarily consider volleyball to be a contact sport. However, facial injuries are more common than people realize in this sport. Players often take blows to the face from other players trying to hit the ball, the ball itself, or different body parts hitting the face, such as elbows, knees, etc. The YouTube video “Case of the Week – Volleyball Accident” shows a player injured in a volleyball game. Be advised that the image in the video is not for sensitive viewers.
What Can Players Do to Prevent Dental Injuries?
As the video points out, some dental injuries, known as traumatic dental injuries (TDI), can be pretty traumatic. Dental injuries at volleyball summer camp happen pretty often. So how can players protect themselves on the court? The first line of defense may be a mouthguard. It should help to reduce dental injuries on the court significantly. Another option is soft guards, which can help minimize injury-related tissue damage.
The problem is that using these devices is rare, and no regulations are in place to ensure players use protection. The reason is that volleyball isn’t considered a contact sport, yet dental injuries suggest otherwise. Please don’t touch the root when damage occurs, as mishandling can prevent it from being reattached. Also, if you can’t reattach it immediately, store the tooth in milk or saliva, or keep it between your cheek and gums until you reach a dentist who can help to reattach it.
.
