The importance of soft tissue examination in post-traumatic decision-making: a case report

Dental and facial traumas involving teeth and supporting tissues are common sports-related injuries. In this case report treatment of a 23-year-old student who had been elbowed by an opponent player during a basketball game, which caused oblique fractures on both maxillary incisor teeth is presented. The patient presented 17 days following trauma having completed full recovery of soft tissues. A fragment of upper incisor tooth had been embedded in lower lip at the time of trauma, which was covered by healing tissues. At the 1 month control the patient complained of a hard structure in his lower lip. The elusive broken fragment was revealed by a radiograph and then removed surgically. This case report is a good example of the importance of the training of general dentists about sports-related traumatic injuries as well as emphasising the importance of the use of mouthguards during contact sports.