In my dental practice I regularly see young patients who have been hurried from the sports field or gymnasium to my office by a panicked parent. These kids show up distraught with permanent teeth that have been broken or injured and must be repaired with bonding, a crown, or even removal and future implant placement. Some of these teeth end up needing root canal treatment for the injuries sustained by the nerves in the teeth. Many of the injuries I see could have been prevented or would have been less severe if the child had been wearing a protective athletic mouthguard.
One of my more memorable emergencies was a beautiful 12-year-old girl who was rushed into my office from the soccer practice field. She and her teammate had both run toward the ball not realizing they were headed for each other, and the teammate’s head hit her in the mouth, knocking out two of her front teeth as well as fracturing the bone above the teeth. One tooth was located in the grass quickly, placed in milk, and brought with the patient to my office where I was able to reimplant it into her mouth.
The other tooth never was found, and the patient has had to live with a temporary appliance to replace that tooth until she reaches 18-20 years of age, the typical age when a young female’s bone growth stabilizes and a dental implant can be placed. Her prom and senior pictures will be made with this temporary appliance instead of her beautiful, natural smile.
Mouthguards fit best when fabricated by a dentist. Most store bought mouthguards do not place even coverage over the teeth and bone, allowing some teeth to receive a harder blow than others. Properly fitting mouthguards provide even thickness and fit closely, leaving no air pockets surrounding the teeth.
According to the American Dental Association, there is only one store-bought mouthguard they are willing to give the ADA seal of approval as most do not do a sufficient job of protecting the teeth, are not comfortable (which means they won’t be worn,) or are not impact or tear-resistant. If your child is active in sports, whether the sport is gymnastics, lacrosse, skateboarding, or other activities where impacts to the mouth may occur, protect his or her smile by making sure those teeth are covered by a properly fitting mouthguard.
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