By Dr. Fung
Imagine watching your child play a game with his or her school team. It could be any sport, like football, basketball, or volleyball. Imagine how you would feel if your child was hit in the mouth, and now you have to figure
out what to do about that missing or broken front tooth. Sounds awful, doesn’t it?
Sports injuries contribute to almost one-third of all dental injuries, and injury to one of the two front teeth accounts for 80% of the injuries to the upper jaw. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), half of all soccer sports-related injuries involve the mouth, and most of those could have been prevented with the use of a sportsguard. Both the ADA and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend the use of
sportsguards in both contact and non-contact sports.
A sportsguard is a resilient appliance that is worn in the mouth to help absorb and dissipate the forces of any impact to the teeth and other oral structures, such as the tongue, lips, and cheeks. A properly fitting sportsguard
should fit securely and be protective, comfortable, tearresistant, tasteless, and should not interfere with speech. Ideally, it should be made with a heat-pressure machine. A custom sportsguard that is made in our dental
office satisfies all these criteria, but the “boil and bite” sportsguards that can be purchased at a sporting goods store do not; the “boil and bite” ones just don’t fit well or protect effectively.
Custom sportsguards have been shown to be significantly more effective at preventing dental injuries than other types of sportsguards because of their superior fit. They are also much more likely to be used because they are much more comfortable. Preliminary studies have shown that custom sportsguards may improve sports performance. One theory is that the sportsguard promotes better oxygen flow and decreases stress levels, which leads
to greater strength and endurance
Making a sportsguard is simple and requires two short appointments. An impression is taken at the first visit. At the second visit, you take the sportsguard home after it is fitted and adjusted.
Considering that players are 60 times more likely to suffer injury if they are not wearing sportsguards and that a single sports-related traumatic injury to your teeth can cause years’ worth of discomfort, worry, and financial cost,
don’t wait to have one made for yourself or your child. Give us a call to set up an appointment to make your sportsguard, and, of course, contact us as soon as possible if you have a dental injury or trauma.