Mouthguards
Sports safety is a big issue for club members, parents, and the individual playing sport. It is very costly to repair or replace teeth that have been knocked out while playing a game, not to mention the time off work or school.
A mouthguard is not limited to a professional sports person – they are for all sports people, of all ages, at all levels of competition. A custom fitted mouthguard has 9x more protection than a ‘Boil & Bite’ mouthguard. They are more comfortable, allow you to speak and breathe with ease and they have a greater feeling of security when wearing them.
Danger in not wearing a mouthguard
95% chance of permanent disfigurement to your upper front teeth.
31% of sporting injuries result in damage to teeth, face and head.
Our mouthguards at HDC are custom made for each individual depending on the sport you play.
Mouthguards are used to stop unnecessary injury to teeth and surrounding tissue due to a blow to the mouth.
Types of Mouthguards:
There are 2 types of mouthguards: - ones that are convenient and ones that are used to protect your mouth during sport.
Boil & Bite – are available from sports stores and are cheap to buy. But they don’t support and fit around your teeth and in your mouth leaving room for the mouthguard to move around, they are uncomfortable and speech and breathing are difficult.
Custom fitted laminated – are available from a dental professional, they cost more, they are individually fitted to your mouth, leaving a mouthguard that fits around your teeth and gums with no room for movement. This greatly limits the amount of damage that is done.
The question is – do you want the mouthguard for convenience and cost or for the protection of your teeth and mouth?
Guide to Minimum Levels of Protection in Sports
Light – for children up to the age of 10
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Duel Laminated – for children 10 yrs and up
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Triple Laminated
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Notes:
This is a Guide ONLY. Players may require greater levels of protection and it may not be possible to eliminate all injury. The protective level required will change depending upon a number of factors including, but not limited to, the level and intensity of competition and the competitive nature of the sports person.
Specialist dental and medical advice is recommended.
Boxing, kick boxing, some martial arts and other Heavy and Super Heavy ‘Collision’ sports or contact may require mouth guards with greater coverage of the occlusal surfaces of the teeth.
In some sports, it may be appropriate for younger players with deciduous teeth to have lighter impact mouthguards.
This information has been provided by Mr Julian Hodges BA DMS ‘Mouthguards & Sport Safety – An Essential Handbook for Everyone Who Should Wear or Recommend a Mouthguard’.