DentaltownUK Winter 2017 - 50

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Mouth Guards: Time
to Change Perceptions

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

50

WINTER 2017 // dentaltownuk.com

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 UK 3;
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
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of DentaltownUK Winter 2017
