Dr. Nick Calcaterra is a member of the Academy for Sports Dentistry
Sports Dentistry, as specified by the Academy of Sports Dentistry (of which Dr. Nick Calcaterra is a member), is defined as:
Sports Dentistry is the branch of sports medicine that deals with the prevention and treatment of dental injuries and related oral diseases associated with sports and exercise.
In sports, the goal of any athlete is to maximize the benefits of participation while minimizing injuries. Athletes at all levels are at risk for injuries to the teeth and orofacial structures.
As the Team Dentist for the Bridgeport Islanders Hockey Team, Dr. Nick Calcaterra is one of only a select few dentists in all of Connecticut who has the specialized training, equipment, and experience to help athletes and their respective teams implement strategies to reduce the likelihood of teeth/orofacial injuries and to treat them when they occur.
What is Sports Dentistry?
Dr. Nick Calcaterra and his “helpers” at a Bridgeport Islanders game.
We provided the boilerplate definition from the Academy of Sports Dentistry above. However, Sports Dentistry can mean different things to different people. A dentist certainly views the term more comprehensively than would a patient. As an office with expertise in servicing high performing athletes and teams, we like to break it down into three different areas:
- Fabrication of Custom Mouthguards: The sports dentist must perform a comprehensive analysis of the patient’s dentition, his/her sport(s), and several other factors to recommend and then ultimately fabricate the most appropriate custom mouthguard. Please refer to our very detailed page on mouthguards.
- Availability/Expertise for On-Field Emergencies: The dentist must either be present at games and/or make him/herself reasonably available for emergency treatment. In addition, the dentist must be well versed in the recognition and treatment of common dental and orofacial injuries, including avulsed teeth, tongue/lip lacerations, exposed tooth nerves, and other injuries.
- Familiarity with Other Sports-Related Dental Findings: The sports dentist should be familiar with the variety of conditions common in athletes. These can include smokeless tobacco use, dental decay from sports drinks, teeth erosion/staining from chlorine in swimmers, eating disorders such as bulimia, and many others.
In addition, it is important that the dentist stay up to date on emerging developments in this niche area. This can include the continuing research on possible links between concussions and mouthguard use, recent recommendations for splinting avulsed teeth, and others.
More Information
As written above, Sports Dentistry is a niche area, with very few dentists having the experience and training to act as a “Team Dentist.”
If you are an athlete and/or parent of an athlete looking for a custom mouthguard, we can help. Just call us.
If you are an Athletic Trainer, Coach, or individual associated with a collegiate and/or professional athletic team – and are looking to partner with an experienced Sports Dentist – you may contact us. Please note that due to our busy schedule and commitments, we are unable to take on pro bono assignments/affiliations.
If you are an athlete that has experienced an urgent sports injury, you may contact us. Unfortunately, we are unable to see new patients – even in cases of urgent injuries – outside of our normal business hours.
