As we head into the National Basketball Association’s All-Star Weekend which takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana, Bedford Dental Group would like to talk both basketball and oral health. It may come as a surprise that basketball is actually among the most dangerous sports for your teeth, if not the most dangerous sport for your teeth. Ask Goran Dragic — he didn’t make the All-Star cut this year, but he is the league leader in lost teeth. He’s got a system in place with his dentist where an implant can be ready by the game’s end. Dragic has lost something like seven teeth during league play, which is pretty impressive.
Dr. Naysan has been the dentist of choice among celebrities and sports figures alike for years. We’ve had names in our chair that come from a long line of basketball glory, names like Luke Walton. Generally, these high profile clients have high expectations, so it’s always a pleasure to be able to meet those expectations and often exceed them. We’re happy to take care of starters, sixth men (and women), and civilians alike. We’ll give all of our patients the All-Star treatment.
Accidents don’t even have to happen on the court! It can happen at a game — you might have seen or heard about that Charles Oakley incident at Madison Square Garden with New York Knicks owner James Dolan. Things can happen even if you’re a fan in the stands, so Bedford Dental Group wants to send out a friendly reminder to keep that head on a swivel.
Since the NBA All-Star Game takes place in N’awlins you can bet that there will be a hearty amount of festivities involved: fans getting wild at nearby pubs and whatnot. That might lend itself to unexpected accidents that can lead to dental emergencies. If you’re all the way in Louisiana, you might have trouble making the red-eye to Bedford Dental Group. But if you plan on watching the game from the bar in Los Angeles, we’re here if you need us, and we know that unexpected things can happen anywhere and anytime.
It goes without saying that there are hazards on the court as well — that’s why stars like Stephen Curry and Lebron James wear mouthguards. They spend a lot of money on those million dollar smiles; they’re not about to jeopardize their investments. Luckily, you won’t see Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant squaring off against each other, or else that might have upped the risk of an injury, since right now there’s a lot of love lost between the two since Durant’s move from the Thunder to the Warriors.
Players crashing around in the paint might damage, loosen, or even outright lose a tooth. That stuff happens during games and even practice more often than you might think. That’s why it can often pay to be a perimeter player or a catch-and-shoot player; at the very least somebody who doesn’t have to throw their weight around down low. The game has actually changed to where you see bigger, taller guys playing well in the perimeter, like Kevin Durant, or Anthony Davis, and teams like the Golden State Warriors who build their dynasties playing “small ball,” a style of play that gets a lot of flack from old-timers like Charles Barkley. Sir Charles might have knocked out a tooth or two with his style of play.
However, as the game changes, more and more practices are put in place by players, organizations, and officials to promote good oral health and safety within the league. More and more players are wearing mouth guards on the court, and more and more rules are being put into place to take care of the players themselves. As accidents do happen, both on and off the court, Bedford Dental Group is here for general, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. All of our patients are on our All-Star team. Enjoy the weekend and enjoy the NBA All-Star Game. Who do you think is going to win?
NBA All-Star Weekend
