Sports Dentistry
Mouthguards to Prevent Sports Injury
Sports dentistry is the prevention and treatment of dental injuries, as well as the sharing of information and equipment designed to help protect the teeth, mouth, jaw, and face of athletes of all ages. Injuries to the teeth and mouth are common among athletes. Dr. Denison believes that it is very important that athletes protect themselves against possible injuries that can occur when participating in sports. He is very active in educating his patients about the types of injuries that occur and what athletes can do to protect themselves against mouth injuries.
Dental Injuries
Dental injuries are the most common type of oral facial injuries sustained during participation in sports and loss of a tooth can lead to a lifetime of expensive dental treatments to repair and maintain the injured area. Because of this, wearing a mouth guard is extremely important.
Types of Mouth Guards
There are four types of mouth guards available:
- Stock
- Boil and Bite
- Vacuum Custom made
- Pressure Laminated Custom made
Dr. Denison believes that stock and boil and bite mouth guards purchased at drug stores or sporting good stores do not provide the optimum treatment needed. Differences in mouth shapes, the presence of baby teeth and permanent teeth in young athletes as well as the type of sport that the athlete is playing are all factors to be considered when getting a sports guard. For patients with braces, special designs for the mouth guards are essential to allow for orthodontic movement without compromising on fit.
Under Armour Performance Mouthwear™
Dr. Denison provides Under Armour Performance Mouthwear™. Benefits include:
- Protect an athlete’s teeth, and also improve physical performance.
- ArmourBite™ patented mouth wear developed by BiteTech,Inc., relieves pressure on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
- Prevents the excessive production of performance-sapping hormones. By reducing these hormones athletes have been shown to have extended periods of higher performance and concentration.
If you or a family member are involved in sports it is very important that a properly made protective mouth guard is part of your equipment. Call Denison Family and Cosmetic Dentistry at (757) 873-9000 about the different styles that are available and what might work best for you.
