Anyone who is actively involved in a sport with a high risk of trauma to the face should consider a mouthguard. Sports such as ice and ball hockey, lacrosse, basketball, mountain bike riding, skateboarding, trampolining, speed skating, baseball, soccer, downhill skiing, snowboarding, all give you more than a simple reason for additional protection.
A mouthguard helps with shock absorption experienced by a blow to the face and/or jaw. Any serious collision can result in chipped or broken teeth, internal tooth damage, intraoral soft tissue injuries, and subsequent tooth loss. Undoubtedly, such injuries can lead to a prolonged and costly dental restorative treatment which may involve various specialists such as oral and maxillofacial surgeons, prosthodontists, implantologists, denturists, and dental technicians.
According to recent research in USA, sports injuries account for just over one-third of all traumatic injuries to the teeth. The report suggests that almost 47% of children active in various sports experience some sort of dental injury. Such statistics only reinforce the importance of sports mouthguards, which typically protect maxillary (upper) teeth, provide a cushion effect, thus minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to surrounding soft tissues of the mouth. Lastly, custom-fitted mouthguards help reduce the risks of jaw fractures and concussions. Here, in Shmitsman’s Denture Clinic we are involved with several local sports organizations that entrust us with the provision of custom-fitted mouthguards on the regular basis.
