SPORTS DENTISTRY

Sports Dentistry is defined as: "Involving the prevention and treatment of oral facial athletic injuries and the related oral diseases, as well as, the collection an dissemination of information on dental athletic injuries and of information on dental athletic injuries and the encouragement of research in the prevention of such injuries."

The academy of sports dentistry recommends properly fiited mouthguards to reduce oral facial injuries, a mouthguard is a resilient device or appliance placed inside/ outside of the mouth to reduce mouth injuries particularly to the teeth and surrounding structures.

Choosing a mouthguard:

All properly fitted mouthguard provide varying degreees of protection. A custom-fitted mouthguard professionally made in the dental office can be talilored to the demands of the athlete and the sport. The most effective mouthguard should have several features. It should be resilient, tear-resistant and comfortable. It also should fit properly, be durable and easy to clean, and not restrict your speech or breathing.
A mouthguard strap can be fastened to most types of mouthguards. The strap protects against loss and allows the mouthguard to be suspended from a face-mask when the athlete is not in play.
Generally, a mouthguard covers only the upper teeth. If you have a protruding jaw, your dentist may recomend that your lower teeth also be covered.

 

Types of mouthguards:

-The Stock Mouthguard: The ready-made, or stock mouthguard can be purchased at most sporting goods and department stores. While it is the least expensive, little can be done to adjust it fit. A stock mouthguard also may be bulky and uncomfortable. It can interfere with breathing and speaking, and the jaws must be closed to hold it in place.

-The Mouth-formed mouthguard: there are two types of mouth-formed mouthguards. the first is a shell-liner mouthguard that is made with acrylic material that is poured into a firm outer shell where it forms a lining. Although secure and well fitted, the shell liner may have an unpleasant odor and taste. Fluids in your mouth may cause the liner to harden. If you wear braces, this type of mouthfuard is more complicated to make and fit to your teeth.
The second type is a thermoplastic mouth-formed mouthguard. Softening in hot water forms this mouthguard. It is placed in the mouth and shaped to the teeth by using finger, tongue and sometimes with biting pressure. It becomes loose with wear and tends to be bulky.

-The Custom-made mouthguard: A good play hidden object games custom-made mouthguard is individually designed and made in the dental office. The dentist makes an impression of the patient's teeth. Using a special material, the mouthguard is made over a model of the teeth. Because the material, and the extra time and work that goes into making it, this type is more likely to give you the most comfortable fit and protection. Although custom-made mouthguards may be more expensive than other types, their good fit, comfort and overall quality make them a worthwhile investment.

The American Dental Association recommends wearing custom mouthgards for the following sports:

Acrobats, basketball, boxing, field hockey, football, gymnactics, hand ball, ice hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, roller hockey, rugby, shot put, skateboarding, skiing, soccer, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling.

Custom made mouthguards are recommmended because the fit and comfort level provided to the student athlete. The best type of mouthguard/ mouth protector is one that is properly fabricated for the individual athlete and is properly in place at the time of an accident.