Department of Health
John J. Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, Commissioner

Trauma to the teeth is one of the most common and preventable types of oral-facial injury. One out of four people 6 to 50 years of age has sustained an injury to their front teeth.

Sports
It is estimated that 13 to 39% of oral-facial injuries are sports related. Certain sports place athletes at a higher risk for oral-facial injuries. Those participating in contact or active sports should wear mouth guards to protect against these injuries. The mandatory use of mouth guards in football alone has prevented an estimated 200,000 injuries each year.

Home and School
Careless activities of children often contribute to fractured teeth. Fighting, running, pushing, and tripping in hallways, on the playground, and on buses can cause oral-facial injuries. Other activities that may cause injuries are biting hard objects, cracking nuts, chewing ice, and chewing pencils.

Other
Safety precautions should always be followed when riding motorized or non-motorized vehicles. When used correctly, child restraints and safety belts are 50% to 70% effective in preventing fatalities and reducing serious injuries.

Oral trauma should receive prompt attention!