Custom Mouthguards - is your team fully protected?

There are over 5 million teeth avulsed each year in sports related injuries. Every athlete involved in contact sport has about 10% chance per season of an orofacial injury or a 35-56% chance during an athletic career. It is estimated by the American Dental Association that mouthguards prevent approximately 200,000 injuries each year in high school and collegiate football alone. In basketball where mouthguards are not routinely worn, 34% of the injuries were orofacial. Various degrees of injury, from simple contusions and lacerations to avulsions and fractured jaws are being reported.

The Most important function of the Mouthguard is in the prevention of concussion and brain injuries (Witzig, 1992). a mouthguard with the proper thickness of 3 to 5 mm between into the base of the brain (temporal bone) at impact. Ninety-five percent of all football concussions are transmitted through the mandible to the brain (Witzig, 1992).

Joon Park, PHD et al, at the First International Symposium on Biomaterials in August of 1993 reported that boil & Bite mouthguards provide false sense of protection due to the dramatic decrease in thickness occlusally during the molding and fabrication process. Dr. Park further stated that "Unless dramatic improvements are made, they (boil & bite mouthguards) should NOT be promoted to patients as they are now." He reported that boil and bite mouthguards decrease in occlusal thickness 70-99% during molding thus taking away the protective properties of the mouthguard.

The national average cost of a custom-fitted mouthguard from a laboratory is about $112.00 each. Mouthguards USA knows that price is absolutely too high. We know what it takes to make custom-fitted mouthguards. It's what we do best, all day, every day! Mouthguards USA, inc. was created to offer high quality, custom-fitted mouthguards at an affordable price. We are proud to provide this service every day to schools and recreation departments nationwide.

the teeth can reduce the rate of concussion by preventing the condyle (lower jaw hinge) from being forced

The American Dental Association recommends wearing custom athletic mouthguards.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, alarmed at the rising rate of mouth and dental injuries among physically active kids, is recommending that all children involved in any potentially tooth-ruining sports be fitted for a custom-fitted mouth-guard.

Remember, if the mouth-guard is uncomfortable or too loose, chances are it will spend more time in its carrying case than in the athlete's mouth!