Justin Jefferson is one of the most exciting wide receivers in the NFL, and fans have noticed his teeth almost as much as his touchdowns. His smile has sparked real questions about dental trauma, sports injuries, and what happens when athletes take a hit to the mouth. Whether you spotted something in a close-up during a game or stumbled across a photo online, here is what his situation can genuinely teach you about protecting and restoring your own teeth.
- Dental trauma in contact sports is extremely common. The American Dental Association estimates athletes who don’t wear mouthguards are 60 times more likely to damage their teeth.
- A chipped, cracked, or knocked-out tooth has real treatment options today, including bonding, crowns, and implants, depending on how much tooth structure remains.
- Time matters. For a knocked-out tooth, getting to a dentist within 30 to 60 minutes dramatically improves the chance of saving it.
- A custom-fitted mouthguard from your dentist offers far better protection than a boil-and-bite store version.
- If a tooth can’t be saved, modern dental implants or other restorations can replace it so completely that most people won’t notice a difference.
What Have People Actually Noticed About Justin Jefferson’s Teeth?
Justin Jefferson has become one of the most photographed athletes in professional football. During sideline celebrations, post-game interviews, and close-up broadcast shots, fans have spotted what appears to be a chipped or slightly irregular front tooth. Social media searches for “Justin Jefferson teeth” have been rising steadily, which tells us that people are genuinely curious rather than just gossiping.
We want to be clear: we have no inside knowledge of Jefferson’s dental history, and we’re not speculating about any specific treatment he has or hasn’t had. What we can do is use the public interest in his smile as a jumping-off point for something genuinely useful. Because dental injuries in football are more common than most fans realize, and knowing what to do when one happens to you (or your child) can make a significant difference in the outcome.
How Common Are Dental Injuries in Football and Other Contact Sports?
More common than you’d think. The American Dental Association’s MouthHealthy resource reports that more than 200,000 oral injuries are prevented each year by mouthguards, suggesting that a huge number still occur when they aren’t worn or don’t fit properly. Research published in dental literature consistently finds that orofacial injuries account for a significant share of all sports-related trauma.
NFL players wear helmets with face masks, but that doesn’t mean the mouth is fully protected. Collisions at high speed, falls to the turf, and elbows during tackles can still chip teeth, crack them, loosen them, or knock them out entirely. Even mouthguards only help when they fit well and players actually wear them throughout a game.
For youth and recreational athletes, the numbers are even more sobering. Basketball, soccer, baseball, and martial arts all carry real dental injury risk, and mouthguards are mandated in far fewer of those sports than you might expect.
What Are the Different Types of Sports-Related Tooth Injuries?
Dentists classify tooth trauma based on what’s actually been damaged. The categories matter because they determine what treatment is needed and how urgently.
Chipped or fractured tooth. The most common sports injury. A small chip might involve only enamel; a deeper fracture can reach the dentin or even the nerve. The pain level often reflects how deep the fracture goes.
Cracked tooth. A crack can run vertically or diagonally through the tooth. These are tricky because they’re not always visible and symptoms can be inconsistent. Sometimes a cracked tooth hurts when you bite down but feels fine otherwise.
Luxated tooth. This is when a tooth gets pushed sideways, forward, or deeper into the socket by an impact, without being knocked out completely. It looks out of place and usually hurts. This requires urgent care.
Avulsed (knocked-out) tooth. The most dramatic injury. A permanent tooth that gets knocked clean out can sometimes be reimplanted successfully if you act fast. Time is the critical variable.
Root fracture. Some impacts fracture the root below the gumline, which may not be visible at all. This often shows up only on an X-ray and can cause the tooth to become loose or tender over time.
What Should You Do Immediately After a Tooth Injury?
The 30 minutes after a dental injury are some of the most important. Here’s what to do based on what happened:
For a chipped or cracked tooth: Rinse your mouth with warm water. If there’s bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze. Save any tooth fragments you find. See your dentist as soon as possible, same day if pain is significant. Cold sensitivity or sharp pain when biting means the nerve may be involved and that needs prompt attention.
For a knocked-out permanent tooth: Pick it up by the crown (the white part), not the root. If it’s dirty, rinse it very gently with water but do not scrub it or remove any tissue attached to the root. Try to place it back in the socket if you can and hold it there while you get to a dentist. If that’s not possible, store it in a container of milk or between your cheek and gum. Get to an emergency dentist within 30 to 60 minutes. The window for successful reimplantation closes quickly.
Do not: Wrap the tooth in a dry tissue or paper towel. That dries out the root cells and dramatically lowers the chance of saving the tooth.
If you’re in the South San Francisco or San Bruno area and something like this happens, our team at Vaksman Dental Group is set up to handle dental emergencies promptly. Call us at (650) 588-3710 and let the front desk know what happened so we can get you seen right away.
What Are the Treatment Options for a Damaged Tooth?
The right treatment depends on the type and severity of the injury, plus how much healthy tooth structure remains. Here’s how our dentists think through the options:
Dental bonding. For minor chips involving only enamel, composite resin bonding can often restore the tooth in a single visit. The material is shaped and polished to match your natural tooth. It’s quick, relatively affordable, and can look very natural. Cosmetic dental bonding is a great first-line option for small fractures.
Dental crown. When a significant portion of the tooth is broken, or when the tooth has a deep crack that weakens its structure, a crown (sometimes called a cap) covers and protects the remaining tooth. At our South San Francisco office, we use CEREC technology to mill ceramic crowns in a single appointment, so you don’t need a temporary or a second visit. The crown is custom-designed and placed the same day.
Root canal treatment. If a fracture or trauma reaches the nerve, the tooth may need a root canal before it can be crowned. This clears out the damaged nerve tissue and seals the tooth so it can function without pain. Root canals have an outdated reputation for being terrible; most patients compare the experience to getting a filling.
Tooth extraction followed by an implant. When a tooth is too damaged to save, extraction is sometimes the right call. The good news is that a modern dental implant can replace the missing tooth with a titanium root and a ceramic crown that looks, feels, and functions like the real thing. This is often the most durable long-term solution for a tooth that can’t be preserved.
Splinting for a loose tooth. A luxated or loosened tooth may be gently repositioned and temporarily bonded to neighboring teeth while the ligament heals. This is similar in concept to casting a sprained joint while it recovers.
Why Do Custom Mouthguards Make Such a Big Difference?
Store-bought boil-and-bite guards are better than nothing, but there’s a meaningful gap between those and a custom-fitted guard made from an impression of your actual teeth. A custom guard fits precisely, stays in place during impact, and distributes force more evenly across the jaw. It’s also more comfortable, which means athletes are more likely to actually wear it.
The ADA recommends mouthguards for all contact and collision sports. That means football, yes, but also basketball, soccer, hockey, wrestling, gymnastics, and even cycling and skating where falls are common. If your child plays a school sport in the SSF Unified School District or at Jefferson High, talking to their dentist about a custom guard before the season starts is one of the most effective things you can do for their teeth.
At our office, we can create a custom athletic mouthguard using precise digital impressions. It takes two visits (one to take the impression, one to pick up the guard), and the result is protection that actually stays put when it matters.
What If the Injury Happened Years Ago and You Never Got It Fixed?
This is more common than it sounds. A lot of people chip a tooth in their teens, make a mental note to deal with it, and then just never do. Maybe it stopped hurting. Maybe life got busy.
Old, unrepaired tooth damage can cause problems over time. A rough edge wears down neighboring teeth. A small chip can grow into a larger crack under normal chewing pressure. A tooth that took trauma to the nerve may slowly die and darken without obvious pain, then develop an abscess months or years later.
If you’ve got a tooth you’ve been ignoring, an exam and X-rays can tell you exactly what’s going on and what your options are. Sometimes the answer is nothing, it’s stable and you can watch it. Sometimes a quick bonding appointment takes care of it in 30 minutes. It’s almost always better to know.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a chipped tooth fix itself?
No. Unlike bone, tooth enamel has no living cells and cannot regenerate or heal on its own. A chip that seems minor may be stable for years, but it won’t fill back in. Depending on its size and location, your dentist may recommend bonding, monitoring, or a crown to prevent the chip from growing into a larger fracture.
How long does a dental crown last after a sports injury?
A well-made ceramic or zirconia crown typically lasts 10 to 20 years, though some last significantly longer with good oral hygiene and regular checkups. Crowns can chip or crack if you grind your teeth heavily or take another direct impact, so a mouthguard is a smart idea even after restoration.
Is it worth trying to save a knocked-out tooth, or should I just get an implant?
If the tooth is otherwise healthy, reimplantation within 30 to 60 minutes gives you a reasonable chance of keeping your natural tooth, and that’s always preferable. The ligament that holds a tooth in the socket is delicate; if those cells die, the reimplanted tooth won’t integrate properly. If reimplantation isn’t possible or doesn’t succeed, a dental implant is an excellent, long-lasting alternative. Your dentist can walk you through the pros and cons based on the specific tooth and your overall oral health.
At what age should kids start wearing a custom mouthguard for sports?
As soon as they’re playing contact or collision sports, regardless of age. Even children with baby teeth benefit from protection because trauma to baby teeth can affect the permanent teeth developing underneath. Custom guards are made to fit current teeth, so your child may need a new one periodically as they grow. Your dentist can advise on timing based on where they are in their dental development.
Whether you’ve had a dental injury, have an old chip you’ve been meaning to address, or want to get your athlete fitted for a proper mouthguard, our team at Vaksman Dental Group is here to help.
Written by the Vaksman Dental Group team and medically reviewed by Dr. Irena Vaksman, DDS — South San Francisco. Last reviewed November 2026.