A 13 year old young hockey player reported to the dental clinic with a chief complaint of broken upper front tooth following trauma due to a blow from the other player while playing hockey. No apparent trauma to the soft tissues in the intraoral and extraoral examination was noted. The patient gave a history of trauma to upper front tooth 7 days ago. Neither the child nor the parent sought immediate dental treatment after the trauma. Her medical and dental history was unremarkable. Clinical and radiographic examinations were conducted. Clinical examination revealed a fracture in the middle third of the crown of the maxillary left central incisor, exposing the pulp (Figure 1).

The tooth showed negative response to cold and electric pulp sensibility tests. There was no mobility or displacement. The remaining maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth were intact. Periapical radiograph was taken which confirmed pulpal involvement. The apex was fully formed and there was no associated root fracture or periapical pathology. (Figure 2)

The treatment plan was divided into 3 steps:-

Step 1- Endodontic phase

Step 2- Construction of the restoration phase

Step -3: Crown cutting of the restored tooth

An infraorbital block was administered for 11, 12. The pulp chamber was opened using no. 330 round carbide steel bur & working length determination IOPA was taken with a no. 10 K-file (Figure 3).

The pulp tissue was extirpated using no. 10 – no. 60 K-files. After irrigation with copious amounts of 2.5% NaOCl & Normal Saline, the root canal was dried using paper points. A thin mix of Zinc oxide eugenol paste was mixed and G.P points were coated with Zinc oxide eugenol paste and filled in the canal (Figure 4).

After the root canal treatment the coronal enamel was then etched for 20 seconds, rinsed with water & air dried followed by application of bonding agent – which was then light cured. The coronal enamel was then covered with the hybrid composite for core build –up, followed by light curing it for 60 seconds. The final finishing & polishing was done with finishing burs.

After root canal treatment and composite build up of the fractured tooth, crown cutting of the teeth was done as shown in (Figure 5). After the crown cutting impression was taken and sent to the laboratory for the processing of Porcelain fused to metal crown. The crown was fixed with the help of luting cement i.e GIC TYPE 1 as shown in the (Figure 6).

Dental injuries are a major problem for the players from the pain, asthetic and economics stand point of view. The athletes have to go through many procedures to get the whole thing corrected which leads to the wastage of their valuable time and money. Sports related injuries can become expensive depending on the nature and extent of trauma. Dental injuries incurred during sports activities are highly treatable, and can involve good outcomes if participants act quickly to see a dentist after an injury event. However, if not treated quickly these kinds of injuries can lead to discomfort, embarrassment and a lifetime of dental costs. The best medicine is, of course, prevention. If one is involved in a contact sport, wearing of the proper protective equipment, particularly a mouthguard is strongly reccommended. If it is economically feasible, have a custom-fit mouthguard made especially for the sportsman. Eat properly and well, refrain from smokeless and all tobacco products and drugs. Taking these steps can help avoid injury and focus attention on enjoying your sports. Sports injuries to the mouth and oral tissues are not necessarily treated any differently than other traumatic injuries to the oral tissues. There are various treatment options in sports related injuries like direct composite veneers, removable partial dentures, dental crowns, replantation of the avulsed tooth. The present case report, discusses the sports related dental injury to the anterior teeth and its treatment.

Dental injuries are common incidents and timely and suitable management of these occurrences is crucial for the prospects of the involved tooth. Although different entities require different treatment approaches, it is paramount to determine the time frame of the incident, the vitality of the affected tooth, as well as set up a proper follow up scenario. Dentist should have readily available a case-scenario protocol which can help deal with teeth trauma in most fitting way.