Sports Injuries and Concussions?

More than 15 million Americans annually suffer dental injuries related to athletic events and this includes the lose of 5 million teeth according to figures released by The National Youth Sports Foundation for the Prevention of Athletic Injuries, Inc. It is also estimated that athletes have a 1 in 10 chance of suffering a facial or dental injury during each athletic season and that their lifetime risk of such an injury is 45 percent.

A tooth does not "heal" like other body tissue and often requires extensive treatment just to become functional again after suffering an injury. Root canals, crowns, fillings are common treatment procedures utilized to bring a tooth back into "service." And injured teeth that cannot be made useful again result in bridges, implants and dentures. The loss of a single tooth (avulsion) can result in more than $15,000 over a lifetime of dental rehabilitation. And this figure does not include the cost of time spent in the dental office.

The proper use of an athletic or sports mouth guard can prevent many of these expensive dental injuries - as well as playing an important part in the prevention or at least reduction of other common sports injuries.

Obviously, a proper fitting mouth guard can prevent or lessen the impact of cuts and other trauma to the lips, cheeks, gums, tongue and mouth. But perhaps less obvious is the role a mouth guard can play in preventing concussions. Reports of concussive injuries - or at least the emphasis on them - have recently increased largely due to the publicity generated by the media discussions of professional football players and the "post-concussion syndrome" (permanent brain damage resulting from multiple concussions). Some estimates say that up to 40% of all retired NFL players may suffer from the syndrome to some extent.

New helmet designs have done much to reduce concussions caused by blows to the head. But concussions are also caused by blows to the chin and by a "whiplash" type action which snaps the head quickly back and forth. The impact of a blow to the chin travels up the lower jaw and into the brain - thus the concussion injury. Padded chinstraps and proper mouth guards are reducing the severity of these injuries.

The knowledge that mouth guards help in the prevention of the serious injuries is not new. The sport of boxing is generally credited with being the first (in the early 1900s) to see the advantages of mouth guards. In the early '60s, U.S. high school football players were first required to wear mouth guards. Other regulatory bodies have since directed most high school and collegiate athletic programs to include mouth guards as standard equipment in almost all sporting events, not just football. Some even extend the use to practice sessions.

Before face guards and mouth protectors were mandatory, half of all sporting injuries were orofacial or dental in nature. They are now counted at less than one and a-half percent of all injuries. Studies by the American Dental Association estimate that each year more than 200,000 orofacial injuries in football alone are prevented by the use of face guards and mouth guards.

But which mouth guard is the right mouth guard? Generally speaking, there are two categories of sports mouth guards: over-the-counter and custom-made. There are several varieties in each category but the biggest difference is in fit, performance, comfort and cost. As might be expected, the over-the-counter type is the least expensive and the quickest to obtain. But fit is questionable and performance is limited. Custom-made mouth guards obtained from a dentist are usually more comfortable and offer the best protection because the fit is "tailor-made". Dental mouth guards are more expensive than OTC mouth guards - but are less expensive than medical or dental treatment made necessary by a sports injury.

The best mouth guard is the one that is worn consistently by the athlete, fits properly (even with orthodontic appliances), and does not interfere with breathing or speaking or athletic performance. Mouth guards dangling from a helmet strap or stored in a locker or kept in a gym bag have not proven to be valuable in reducing injuries.

Most athletes prefer the fit, comfort and performance of the custom-made mouth guard. It should be noted, however, than any mouth guard is better than none. Therefore, all athletes should be encouraged to wear the best fitting, most protective mouth guard they can afford.

Dr. Gerald Maher points out that mouth guards are not just for "competitive" organized athletics. The recreational sports figure should also be aware of the protection a mouth guard can give. The weekend athlete may be at an even higher risk of sports injuries because of the lack of conditioning, training and skill. Mouth guards should also be used in practices, physical education classes and some exercise programs.