LONG GROVE, ILLINOIS-Do you participate in organized sports or play sports recreationally? Do you wear the proper protective equipment?
Participation in sports considerably increases your risk of dental injury, which is why Affiliated Dental Specialists want to remind their patients to get – and use – a well – fitted mouthguard.
“Even though some injuries are unavoidable, the vast majority of sports-related traumatic injuries can be prevented,” says Dr. James Orbon, a Long Grove pediatric dentist.
The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons recommends the use of mouthguards for children and adults when playing any sport that involves falls, body contact or flying equipment. This includes football, wrestling, baseball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding, gymnastics, in-line skating, mountain biking – any activity that might result in an injury to the mouth.
“Be proactive and protect yourself so when you get hit in the face with a puck, ball, elbow or the ground you won’t end up in the Affiliated Dental Specialistt‘s chair or worse the emergency room,” says Dr. Cameron Wagner, an expert at the and a pediatric dentistry practice.
The yearly costs of all injuries, including orofacial injuries, sustained by young athletes has been estimated to be as high as 1.8 billion dollars. In 2005, the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation found the average cost of treatment and follow-up care for an avulsed permanent tooth – one that has been knocked out – is between $5000 and $20,000 over a lifetime.
“Injuries to the face and teeth can cause many long term oral health problems,” says orthodontics expert Dr. Richard Port.
Mouthguard devices come in different types and styles, but they are all worn over the teeth to cover the upper teeth and protect against traumatic injuries, such as fractured teeth, getting teeth knocked out, cut lips and other damage.
Dr. Gary Klein, an orthodontist at the practice says patients who are undergoing orthodontic treatment with braces or wear any fixed dental appliance on their lower jaw might need a mouth protector for those teeth as well. People with malocclusions like protruded front teeth are at an increased risk for injury.
The Basics Of Mouthguards
Any type of mouthguard you choose needs to be durable and comfortable, and the mouthpiece should never restrict speech or breathing, says pediatric dental care provider Dr. David Maddox.
Everyone needs to periodically check their mouthguard for wear, but athletes involved in multiple sports will need to check their mouthguard more often, he says. An easy way to remember is to evaluate them at the end of each season.
“Keep in mind that you should check children and adolescents’ mouthguards for proper fit and protection every couple of months,” says Dr. Wagner. “Since they are still developing, a change in the mouth, jaw or teeth could mean that the mouthguard needs to be replaced.”
Mouthwear Options
The three classifications for mouthguards are stock, boil-and-bite and custom-made. When you are weighing the options, Dr. Maddox says consider the fact that something that fits poorly, feels bulky or impairs breathing or talking is not going to be used very often.
• Type I: Custom-Fabricated Mouthguards
Custom mouthguards provide the best retention, protection and comfort. They are made at our dental practice or a professional dental laboratory using a model of the patient’s mouth, which means they cost the most out of all three options. Some types can also be customized aesthetically.
• Type II: Mouth-Formed
Boil-and-bite mouthpieces come pre-formed but can be altered to create a more-customized fit. The person boils the form per the instructions and bites into the softened plastic to create a mold. These are widely available and inexpensive.
• Type III: Stock
Stock mouthguards are pre-formed plastic and ready to use right out of the package. They have a broad appeal because they are available at sporting goods stores and large retailers, inexpensive and ready-to-wear.
“The most important thing is to wear whatever type of mouthguard you picked once you have it,” says Dr. Klein. “It won’t do you good on the counter at home or stuffed in an athletic bag.”
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