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| Introduction |
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 Oral
and maxillofacial surgeons are the specialists called in to treat
the
broken jaws, splint the loosened teeth, and replant the knocked-out
tooth. Every day they treat the painful results of sports-related
injuries.
That's why oral and maxillofacial surgeons support the mandatory use
of safety equipment. As always, prevention is the best policy. |
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Diagnosis |
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From
their experience with athletes ranging from NFL All-Pros to Olympians
to the kid playing sandlot ball, oral and maxillofacial surgeons recommend
that athletes participating in such sports as basketball, baseball,
football, hockey, soccer, water
polo, handball, rugby, karate, judo, gymnastics and horseback riding,
be fitted with mouth guards. New synthetic materials and advances
in
engineering and design have resulted in mouth guards that are sturdier,
yet lightweight enough to allow ease of breathing. Mouth guards
can
vary from very inexpensive "boil and bite" models to custom-fabricated
guards made by dentists, which can be adapted to the sport and are
generally
more comfortable. |
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Treatment |
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 A
mouth protector should be evaluated from the standpoint of retention,
comfort, ability to speak and breathe, tear resistance, and protection
provided to the teeth, gums, and lips. There are five criteria
to use
when being fitted for a mouth protector: 1) it should cover the upper
and/or lower teeth and gums; 2) it should be fitted so that it
does not misalign the jaw and
throw off the bite; 3) it should be light; 4) it should be strong;
and 5) it should be easy to clean.
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