Now that you have followed along this week’s posts and seen the damage that can happen with dental trauma and the amazing restorations that can be done to restore teeth. Let’s have a look at how trauma can be avoided. While most of the cases shown this week were of accidental in nature, and unavoidable; dental trauma can be avoided during times when we are participating in activities that can lead to a fall or an impact to the head and mouth.
Millions of teeth are lost or traumatized annually during sporting activities. A single lost tooth can cost an individual thousands of dollars in dental treatment over a lifetime. Mouthguards also reduce the risk of concussions, soft tissue mouth injuries, and head, jaw and neck injuries.
Mouthguards are recommended for all activities where you may make any contact or fall. A full cage helmet alone is not enough to protect the teeth. Athletes in many sports need Custom Sports Guards including:
- hockey,
- soccer,
- ringette,
- basketball,
- soccer,
- baseball,
- horseback riding
- cycling and BMX biking and
- martial arts.
Regular Sportsguards Vs. Custom Sports Guards
Compared to boil and bite sportsguards, Custom Sports Guards
- fit better and won’t slip out of place from jarring contact.
- provide maximum impact dispersion and protection against tooth damage
- are more durable and keep their shape better
- allow better breathing, providing increased oxygen intake for maximum performance and endurance
- let you speak clearly with teammates
- allow you to drink with the sportsguard in
- come in numerous colours
- for those wearing braces, boil and bites are the only option as the teeth move quickly during orthodontic treatment not allowing custom guards to fit for very long
How are they made?
- After a general examination of the mouth and teeth is performed, a member of the team will take a custom impression (mould) of your teeth. You will get to choose what colour of sportsguard you would like. The impression will get sent to our dental laboratory, where technicians will custom fabricate your sportsguard. Within two weeks, our team will see you back and make sure the sportsguard fits properly and will give you instructions on how to take care of it.