Trauma
Dr Alfie Chan is involved with many local sports clubs and has an established reputation and
special interest in Sports Dental Trauma Emergency management.
Prevention is key so a precisely fitted bespoke sports guard is critical for most competitive
sports but also sports like horse riding, skateboarding and mountain biking, which are very
popular in the West Berkshire area.
When accidents happen, we can diagnose, manage and treat effectively all areas of the
mouth with the latest emergency techniques and 3D scanning, with minimum delay.
Whenever possible, Alfie will always attempt to get your smile put back together which
facilitates faster recovery of both the physical and psychological aspects of dental trauma.
For further information please refer to www.dentaltrauma.org.
Mouthguards
Prevention is key !
A precisely fitted bespoke sports guard is critical for most sports. At The Rectory Clinic our
mouthguards are custom made to fit over your teeth and gums, reducing the risk of harm
during contact sports or clenching.
Whenever pushing your body to its limits during strength training or competition, most athlete´s natural reaction is to clench their teeth. Clenching causes tension in the jaw muscles which in turn creates cortisol, a hormone that tells your body it is stressed or fatigued. This impedes the body’s natural ability to perform at 100%.
Furthermore, clenching your teeth inhibits your power output. Clenching causes your central nervous system to inhibit your natural reflexes. The periodontal ligament is the layer of tissue between your natural teeth and the jawbone. It acts as a shock absorber and the nerve fibres give your brain feed-back on how hard you are biting. If the bite is too strong the body triggers a reflex that inhibits the strength of the bite muscles.
This is designed to stop you biting so hard that you break your teeth. However, this reflex pathway can have systemic effect on other muscles systems, inhibiting maximum contraction and significantly slowing down reaction times
A strong, durable mouthguard could last you years but, of course, the lifetime of your
mouthguard depends on how well you care for it, and whether it takes any blows from your
sporting activities. On average a mouthguard will last around six months to a year. If your
teeth are still moving or coming through, then it is important to get your mouthguard replaced
more regularly to ensure that it fits correctly.
Maintaining your Mouthguard:
• Scrub your mouthguard after every use with a soft toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Keep it in its protective case when you are not wearing it.
• Mouthguards are plastic, so keep it out of very hot water and the sun.
• Make sure you regularly replace your mouthguard, not only for good hygiene but also to update it as your teeth naturally change and move.
Pitch side support
The Rectory Clinic provides support and treatment tailored to optimise the health of elite athletes.
Our sports dentist Dr Alfie Chan can provide cover for the treatment of traumatic injuries to the teeth and soft tissues of the mouth at many sporting events.
Early management of injuries can be crucial – even if a tooth is knocked out, it can be put back in place, splinted and saved. However, successful replantation is more readily achieved if treatment takes place within an hour of the accident.
If you need a sports dentist at one of your sporting events, please contact us.
Risk factors for dental problems in Elite Athletes
Neglect
If you are busy training and competing, you may neglect your teeth. A lack of routine care
and maintenance, and not attending regular dental examinations and hygiene appointments
can lead to dental emergencies, even if you have had no previous problems.
Diet
Isotonic drinks may be recommended for rehydrating elite athletes, but they are also packed full of sugar and very acidic, just like normal fizzy drinks. If you consume these regularly, you will increase your risk of tooth decay and acid erosion.
Wisdom Teeth
These teeth are the last to emerge in the mouth, making an appearance in the late teens
and twenties – a particularly active age for sporting pursuits. If wisdom teeth become
impacted and do not emerge properly, they can become infected and may cause pain,
swelling and fever.
Wider reaching effects of poor dental health
Healthy teeth don’t just look good and function well, they also have an impact on your overall
well-being. Infection stemming from gum disease, decay or infected wisdom teeth can travel
around the body in the blood stream, settling in other sites (such as injuries) where it can
cause problems. A general level of infection (bacteraemia) can cause us to feel below par,
which is particularly unwelcome if you are competing at the highest levels in sport.
Cryotherapy
Benefits of a Cryotherapy Chamber?
The main purpose of Cryotherapy is the huge reduction in
inflammation (the body’s natural healing process). Plus, the release of
oxygen, nutrients and hormones released into your bloodstream, and
the flushing out of harmful toxins from your system.
This allows you to return to training quicker but also to train harder,
faster, and stronger.
Cryotherapy can help you heal much faster from an actual injury,
including repetitive strain injuries, as well as intensive training.
It’s not just athletes that benefit from injury recovery, anyone can! You
will experience:
> less muscle soreness and spasms
> fast and effective removal of excess heat from the point of injury
> lymphatic drainage
> increasing blood flow of oxygen-rich blood cells.
Cryotherapy is fantastic for stimulating your body’s immune system, via
the improved production of hormones triggered by exposure to extreme cold temperatures.
This will help increase your body’s immunity to day-to-day infections and colds.
Endorphin levels are also improved, which all help to reduce antioxidant stress within your body.
Cryotherapy will help to relax you, while simultaneously reducing your anxiety, leading to a better night’s sleep.
Within the following 12 to 24 hours your body will burn on average an
extra 800 calories.
The cold temperatures speed up your metabolic rate, so not only are you burning more calories, but you are burning more efficiently.
Cryotherapy makes you feel better!
> It relaxes you
> It increases your production of endorphins
> Aids in a better night’s sleep
> Helps your mind and body repair
All leading to a reduction in depression and feeling happier.
Collagen is one of the key components to having amazing-looking skin.
Cryotherapy increases your production of this wonder protein, which
will help to make your skin thicker and tighter, with fewer wrinkles and
fine lines.
The reduction of inflammation also makes your skin look
brighter and more radiant.
Women have also reported that
Cryotherapy has helped with the reduction of their cellulite.
For those suffering from chronic pain, such as arthritis, multiple
sclerosis, and fibromyalgia, Cryotherapy reduces pain and short-term
effects of symptoms.
Though not a cure, it significantly helps with pain associated with these conditions and helps improve the effects of these diseases.
A course of 10 to 20 treatments in rapid succession is recommended.
