Sports Mouthguards

Many teeth are broken or lost in athletic events while playing sports through the school years. These accidents may be prevented if athletes properly wear acceptable mouthguards. While parents want to protect their children’s teeth, they want to conserve money during this costly time of life in their families. There is a great tendency to purchase inexpensive, over the counter mouthguards thinking that these protective appliances are sufficient. The truth is, commercial mouthguards have been shown to be inadequate because of poor fit and inability to absorb shock. While offering the least amount of protection, they also can interfere with breathing and speech, only come in a limited number of sizes and cannot be altered to improve fit. While boil-and-bite mouthgurads do fit better and offer more protection than stock mouthgurads, they tend to be bulky, uncomfortable, interfere with breathing and speech. They also can be difficult to fit around braces and can result in cut lips or cheeks when a player is hit in the mouth. Often, players chew on these ill fitting mouthguards and wedge them in their helmets. This results in tearing and creating missing pieces of the mouthguard. Proper storage cases must be purchased separately and are rarely used, leading to unsanitary placement of the mouthguard when not in use. When placed in the mouth, it can introduce bacteria and germs which can cause illness. Usually, these mouthguards do not last an entire season.

Custom made mouthguards offer the best protection and comfort. Dental staff make an impression and a stone cast model of the mouth is made. The mouthguard material is then adapted to the model of the patient’s mouth and a vacuum process forms the material to the model of the teeth. The final mouthguard is then fitted and the bite is adjusted to the individual. The fit of the mouthguard is such that it stays in place, allowing the athlete to talk while wearing the protective mouthguard, covers all the teeth and absorbs shock well. The fit and bite are true to the athlete and therefore more comfortable while providing better overall protection. Additionally, it covers and protects more of the soft tissue surrounding the teeth from cuts and lacerations. Dentists can offer a variety of ways to customize the mouthguards, including colors, personalize with names or team logos.

I have made many mouthguards for several girls lacrosse teams in Northern Virginia. Wearing personalized mouthguards in team colors has increased team unity and emphasized the importance of proper safety while playing and enjoying one’s sport.

Joseph P. Cavallo DDS

www.cavallodentistry.com