Dental injuries are the most common type of orofacial injury sustained during participation in sports. Amateur or professional. School-related or recreational.

It is estimated by the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation(NYSSF) that more than five million teeth will be knocked out in sporting activities each  year. https://www.dentalcare.com/en-us/professional-education/ce-courses/ce127/statistics

We also know that athletes who do not wear mouthguards are 60 times more likely to sustain damage to their teeth. Yet, 67% of parents admitted that their children do not wear a mouthguard during organized sports.

That being said, it makes sense that promoting and providing mouthguard protection is one of the best things you can do for your patients.

ALL MOUTHGUARDS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL.

Over-the-counter brands are not the answer. They fit poorly, perform badly and protect not at all. Speech is inhibited. Bulk and fit prove to be more hazard than help.

“Boil & Bites” can even be worse!  They are hard to make correctly and have even been known to dislodge and block the oropharynx – actually endangering the wearer.

Vacuum-formed? Profoundly inadequate from the get go as the protective thickness is compromised during forming by as much as 50%. They also pull away from incisal edges of the upper front teeth, and frequently loosen after weeks of wear.

More economical?  Definitely not when you consider the life long costs of loosing a tooth are in the 10 to 15 thousand dollar range! 

The answer?

Male or female, young or old, rookie or veteran...a custom-fitted mouth guard is absolutely essential to protecting teeth, mouth and brain from serious injury.

Tune in to this blog next week for Part II.