Savannah Bananas' Jackson Olson Survived a 90-MPH Baseball Hit, Putting Teeth at Risk: What Is Dental Trauma?

A baseball travelling at 90 mph can cause significant damage when it strikes the face. For Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson, a high-speed hit reportedly broke his jaw and left him dealing with dental problems that eventually led to veneers, according to PEOPLE.

His experience highlights an often-overlooked consequence of facial injuries: trauma to the teeth can persist even after the most obvious injury has been treated.

What Is Dental Trauma?

Dental trauma refers to an injury affecting the teeth or the tissues supporting them. It can happen after falls, road accidents, sports injuries, or a direct blow to the mouth.

The damage can range from small chips or cracks to a tooth being displaced, loosened, or completely knocked out. Severe facial trauma can also involve the jawbone and the tissues around the teeth.

A tooth may appear intact externally while sustaining damage to its inner pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels. Traumatic injuries can sometimes lead to pulp inflammation or necrosis, meaning the pulp tissue dies. The American Dental Association recognises traumatic tooth fractures and pulp necrosis among dental conditions requiring assessment and treatment.

How Can a Blow to the Face Damage Teeth?

The force from a high-impact object can travel through the jaw and surrounding structures. Depending on where the impact occurs, teeth can fracture, become loose, or shift position.

An injury can also damage the periodontal tissues that help hold a tooth in place. In some cases, the blood supply or nerve tissue inside a tooth can be affected.

This means dental problems may not always be obvious immediately after an accident. Pain, sensitivity, changes in tooth colour, looseness, or discomfort when biting can indicate that a tooth needs further evaluation.

Can a Tooth 'Die' After an Injury?

Yes. Severe trauma can damage the blood vessels and nerves inside a tooth, potentially causing pulp necrosis.

However, this does not necessarily happen immediately, and a tooth that looks normal after an accident may still require monitoring. Dentists can use clinical examinations and, when appropriate, imaging and pulp testing to assess the condition of an injured tooth.

Early assessment is important because traumatic dental injuries can require follow-up even when the initial symptoms appear manageable. Clinical guidance on traumatic dental injuries emphasises early recognition and appropriate referral.

What Treatments Might Be Needed?

Treatment depends on the type and severity of the injury. A chipped tooth may be repaired with bonding or another restoration, while a fractured or severely damaged tooth may require more extensive treatment. If the dental pulp becomes irreversibly damaged or dies, root canal treatment may be necessary to preserve the tooth.

Teeth that have been displaced or loosened may sometimes require stabilisation with a splint while supporting tissues heal. A tooth that has been completely knocked out requires urgent dental care, with treatment depending on factors such as the type of tooth and how quickly it is treated.

In some cases, cosmetic treatments may be considered after the underlying injury has been addressed. Veneers, for example, can alter the appearance of damaged or discoloured teeth, but they do not replace the need to assess any underlying dental injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is dental trauma?
  Dental trauma refers to an injury affecting the teeth or the tissues supporting them, often resulting from falls, road accidents, sports injuries, or direct blows to the mouth.
• How can a blow to the face damage teeth?
  A high-impact object can cause teeth to fracture, become loose, or shift position, and may also damage the periodontal tissues or the blood supply and nerve tissue inside a tooth.
• Can a tooth 'die' after an injury?
  Yes, severe trauma can damage the blood vessels and nerves inside a tooth, potentially causing pulp necrosis, which may not be immediately apparent.
• What treatments might be needed for dental trauma?
  Treatments vary based on the injury's severity and may include bonding, root canal treatment, stabilisation with a splint, or cosmetic treatments like veneers.
• When should you see a dentist after facial trauma?
  Seek dental assessment if there is a broken or loose tooth, persistent pain, bleeding, swelling, altered bite, or difficulty opening the mouth.