Football players need more time to recover from head injuries, University of Rochester researchers reveal in a new study. “A University of Rochester study examined the brains of college football players who hadn’t suffered a concussion. Six months after the season, they found evidence of brain injuries,” 13Wham reported on April 17. In other words, head injuries of all kinds may be more severe than previously thought and the six month break allotted for healing may not be enough.

Researchers recorded the injuries and recoveries of the university’s football team, the Yellow Jackets, over the course of three years. Ten players agreed to “sophisticated brain scans at the beginning and then at the end of the season,” according to WHEC. The same 10 players wore helmets with sensors monitoring brain activity. The study — in collaboration with the U of R Athletic Center — raises troubling concerns. For one, there is relatively little information about the long-standing effects of brain injuries — particularly for those that do not result in concussions. More research is necessary to determine whether brain injuries will heal over time (in more than six months) or whether they may permanently addle the brain.

“Head injuries in sports, especially football, have been a hot issue for years,” The Democrat & Chronicle adds. “In January, the NFL finally agreed to pay a $765 million settlement to thousands of former players who claim their brain issues are from playing.” Head injuries are similarly common in the National Hockey League (NHL), and NHL players are also considering legal recourse.

Head injuries are often associated with the need for dental work as well. Players who sustain jaw and/or dental injuries during contact sports can seek treatment from a prosthodontist. Prosthodontists typically have two to three years of American Dental Association (ADA) accredited education under their belts and help correct damaged and/or missing teeth.