Mouthguards vs. Spinach Soufflés

A couple of years ago I learned the hard way how important wearing an athletic mouthguard is. Yes, I've been recommending them for years; in fact, I feel so strongly about the prevention of athletic dental injuries, I made free mouthguards for several high school water polo teams. (after watching my daughter's first game!) But who would think that a friendly game of basketball with the "boys" would end with a dislocated TMJ and two weeks of smoothies and spinach soufflés! Since that experience, I play more golf, and insist that my sports minded patients, of all ages, wear custom fitted mouthguards.

The National Youth Sports Foundation for the Prevention of Athletic Injuries, reports dental injuries as the most common type of oral facial injuries sustained during participation in sports. Injury prevention, through properly fitted mouthguards, is considered essential.

• A professionally fitted mouthguard reduces the chance of sustaining a concussion from a blow to the jaw, as well as dental and mandibular injuries.
• Repeated concussions appear to impart cumulative damage, resulting in increased severity and duration with each incident.
• The stock mouthguard, which is bought at local sports stores provide only a low level of protection, if any. If the wearer is rendered unconscious, there is risk the mouthguard may lodge in the throat potentially causing an airway obstruction.
• Custom fitted mouthguards are less bulky and don't interfere with breathing and speech.
• The cost of a fractured or knocked out tooth is many times greater than the cost of a professionally designed mouthguard.
• The American Dental Association recommends that custom mouthguards be worn at all times during competition, in practice as well as games.

Mouthguard design and fabrication is extremely important. If everyone had the same dentition, mouth size, number and shape of teeth, were the same gender and age, and played the same sport with the same level of competition, prescribing a standard mouthguard would be simple. This is the precise reason why only a professionally fitted mouthguard can provide optimum protection.

Preseason examinations are essential in preventing injuries. Health histories, at risk dentitions, maxilla/mandibular relationships, orthodontics, loose and missing teeth, crown and bridge work, and the possibility of needed extractions for orthodontic treatment or wisdom teeth all figure into the specific type and design of mouthguard fabrication.

Play it safe, make an appointment for a professionally fitted athletic mouthguard for anyone in your family that participates in contact sports.

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