Mouth Guards: Time to Change Perceptions by David Hands

Dental injuries are the most common type of orofacial trauma sustained during sports.¹ Fractures, tooth intrusion, extrusion and complete avulsion are the most frequent type of injuries, but temporomandibular joint dislocation can also occur.²

Depending on severity, there can be aesthetic, functional and financial implications to obtaining an orofacial injury when playing sport. We’re used to seeing professional athletes wearing protective clothing and equipment, but what about people who participate at a non-pro level—for example, at school or in an amateur club? Within this group, the face is often woefully unprotected despite it being such a vulnerable part of the body.

If you asked your patients about who would and should use a mouth guard, boxers would be up there, also those who play cricket, hockey and football. The theme would be activities that involve contact, or where an individual risks receiving a fast-moving object to their face. But popular non-contact sports also carry risks.

Cycling is at an all-time high in the UK³; recent statistics show that more than 18,000 adults and children were recorded as being slightly or seriously injured after a bike-related accident in 2015.⁴ Cycle helmets are not mandated by law, but every responsible cyclist should wear one. But even with a helmet on, a fall or collision could lead to a fractured tooth or teeth and a dental emergency.

Mouth guard use—or even awareness of orofacial protection—has not seen a parallel increase with participation.

The American Dental Association recommends all recreational sport players—not just those who play “high-risk” contact and collision sports—wear mouth guards.⁵

Is it time, then, for practitioners in the UK to take on a role in educating patients about how important, and easy, it is to prevent orofacial injuries? From amateur sporting types to coaches and parents, the habitual use of mouth guards should be encouraged.

It could be argued that mouth guards suffer from bad press. But an obtrusive device that impedes speech, as seen in any Rocky movie, is a world away from the new generation of products. Dental practitioners are on the front line to change perceptions and, again, education is key. This is not only about how mouth guards are essential for preventing injury, but also how the design of mouth guards has moved on, enormously.

So-called “boil-and-bite” mouth guards are widely available, including from online retailers. The availability and low cost of these items means that they are popular among amateur and semi-professional sportspeople, despite often being low in comfort.⁶ Patients and their parents shouldn’t let the price influence their decision, though, because inadequate protection could cost them more in the long run. Tell them about custom-made mouth guards that you, as their trusted practitioner, will personally fit and that offer the greatest protection against dental injuries.⁷

The anatomical features of the jaw and dental arch influence the fit and effectiveness of a mouth guard enclosing and protecting the teeth and soft tissues. A good fit means the device can be easily removed, so the wearer can communicate or take a drink. Go custom-made and the mouth guard will be unique and sports-specific; the wearer may need protection against flying objects, or flying kicks and punches. For keen cyclists, a double-layered mouth guard might be recommended, so any force is distributed more evenly, rather than travelling all the way to the head in the event of a nasty fall. This might even help prevent concussion.

The materials used for making custom mouth guards vary, but most offer optimum cushioning and abrasion resistance and can be successfully manipulated. See the provision of mouth protection as the dentist’s contribution to sports medicine and the reason why we should become more active in injury prevention.

Start researching the market if there are gaps in your knowledge about what the latest products can do. Saber Protect offers custom mouth guards that are multilayered and have been developed to give the wearer a range of benefits.

If you can offer your patients the very best, this will increase compliance and generate positive feedback for your practice.

The value of custom mouth guards in reducing injury has been proven; the risk of injury increases when one is not worn.⁸ They should form part of your service provision while you take the lead in promoting their use and educating patients about their benefits.

Wearing a mouth guard might remain a matter of personal choice in the foreseeable future, but it is important to give patients that choice. Both patient and practitioner need to look beyond typical contact sports and think about the lasting—and maybe devastating —impact that an orofacial injury can have, which in most cases, is preventable.

Saber Protect custom-made mouth guards are fabricated by CosTech Dental Laboratory. For more information, please visit www.custom-mouth-guards.com.

David Hands, MDT GDC Reg. Technician| GDC Reg No: 127133 Elite Manager and Director