1) We want our to patients have healthy gums. The gum tissue is the foundation on which all dental treatment is based. Healthy gums lead to better oral and overall health.
2) We want our patients to have healthy teeth. Teeth are not only important for a beautiful smile, but they help us eat our food. Healthy eating habits will lead to a long life.
3) We want our patients to have healthy mouths. The lips, cheeks, and tongue are all part of a beautiful face and they can indicate whether or not the body is healthy.
This Month:
Mouthguards: They’re Not Just For Boxers Any More.
The champion boxer will spit out his mouthguard and give an interview right after pummeling his opponent. He will then thank God, his manager, his trainer, his mom, and others for his success in the ring. You never hear him thank the dentist who made his mouthguard which protected his teeth not only during the match but also during the countless hours of training that he had to endure in order to win the match. I am certain that his mom would have thanked the dentist for her son’s mouthguard. Especially after all the money she spent on his braces.
While it may seem obvious that athletes who play contact sports like boxing and football should wear something to protect their teeth. It is not as obvious that the teeth need to be protected during non-contact sports like baseball, basketball, volleyball, and soccer. Even in games in which there is not supposed to be contact, it is not unusual for an elbow, a head, the ball, or the ground to make contact with the player’s mouth. According to the Academy of Sports Dentistry, an athlete has a 10% chance of getting a mouth injury during a single season and a 33 – 56 % chance during his career. If a tooth is knocked out, a single tooth implant can cost as much as $ 5,000. Even if the teeth are only chipped it can cost thousands of dollars over the athlete’s lifetime to repair and maintain them. There is also evidence that wearing a mouthguard can reduce the likelihood of getting a concussion. The mouthguard absorbs some of the energy from being struck in the mouth and prevents it from being transmitted to the brain.
There are several types of mouthguards. The first type is a stock mouthguard. This is the least expensive type and provides the least amount of protection. They come in several sizes and do not require any adaptation to make them fit. Since they are not fitted to the individual player, they do not stay in the mouth by themselves and therefore must be held in place by biting down on it. This makes it difficult for the player to breathe through his mouth and he will not keep it in place during play. Because of the poor fit, lack of retention, and poor player compliance this type of mouthguard is not recommended.
The second type is called a “boil and bite” mouthguard. This is placed in boiling water to soften the plastic and is then placed in the mouth to mold to the player’s mouth. This is the most common type of mouthguard. Like the stock mouthguard, they come in several different sizes, but they are adaptable to the player’s teeth. Like the stock mouthguards, they do not stay in the very well and are held in place by biting down on it. Even though they come in different sizes they often are not the same size as the player. Since they may not cover all of the teeth with an adequate thickness of material, they may not provide enough protection for the teeth and jaw.
The next two types of mouthguards are custom fitted by the dentist. A custom made mouthguard can be made to have room for erupting teeth and braces. Store bought models can not. The most common custom made mouth guard is made of a rubber like material. The dentist makes a mold of the mouth. This material is heated and is vacuum pressed over the mold of the mouth. The dentist then trims the edges, places it in the patient’s mouth, and makes certain that it fits correctly. These mouthguards cover all of the teeth with an adequate thickness of material and because they are custom fit, they stay in the mouth by themselves. The player does not have to keep his mouth closed when playing hard. The dentist can also have a lab make a multi-layered mouthguard with the mold that is taken. Multiple layers of shock absorbing plastic are fused together in a pressurized machine. These also fit the teeth tightly enough so that they stay on by themselves. Because they are made of multiple layers they provide the most protection and are great for sports such as boxing and the martial arts where blows to the face are common.
Please call our office today if you would like to protect the investment that you made in your child’s teeth. Custom made mouthguards are simple to make and can help to prevent the damage or loss of permanent teeth.
