Sports Dentistry

Background
Optimal oral health is critical to preventing and controlling oral and craniofacial disease, conditions, and injuries. It requires the ability to improve access to preventive services and dental care through a compassionate health-equitable approach.
The American Dental Association’s Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention (CAAP) and the Academy for Sports Dentistry (ASD) team up to highlight how preventing an injury during sports is an example of health equity, access to care, and the importance of the provider and patient voice. This presentation also briefly addresses benefits of sports and activity participation, treatment of injuries, and performance gains through oral health.
As part of the continued focus on the ADA’s Action for Dental Health, this presentation provides useful narrative examples on the importance of providing injury preventive care in the dental office empowers the athletes to have confidence in not only their smile. You’ll hear from three dentists who have provided these services to unique sports teams and an athlete who will speak about how injury prevention allowed them to succeed on and off the field.

Learning Objectives
• Recognize how to get involved with injury prevention efforts to promote access to preventive and dental care, and foster collaboration
• Apply prevention strategies to promote health equity
• Discuss the provider and patient perspective on the importance of oral health and injury prevention

Presenters
Steve Birnbaum, American professional soccer player — captain and center-back for D.C. United
Dr. Emilio Canal Jr., team dentist for the US Soccer Federation, MLS DC United, WPSL Washington Spirit, and MLR Washington Old Glory
Stephen Mills, board-certified pediatric dentist
Lance Thompson, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon & Adjust Faculty, Head and Neck Surgical Associates & Oregon Health Science University