The document discusses the prevalence of dental injuries in youth sports and recommends ways to protect teeth. It notes that dental injuries are the most common type of orofacial injury in sports. Around 22,000 dental injuries occur annually in children under 18 from activities like bicycling, baseball, and basketball. Properly fitted mouthguards can prevent injuries by protecting the teeth and are recommended for sports like football, soccer, and hockey. Custom-fitted mouthguards provide better protection and comfort than stock or boil-and-bite versions.

1. What Would It Be Like
To Lose One Of Your
Front Teeth?

2. If you or your children play sports, then you
are probably very familiar with the bumps
and bruises that come with any contact
sport. In fact, the odds are that sports
injuries like sprained ankles, facial cuts, even
broken bones, will happen at some point over
the course of a sports career – whether
professional or not.

3. The National Youth Sports
Foundation for the Prevention of
Athletic Injuries, Inc. reports some
very interesting statistics about
sports injuries. Dental injuries are
the most common type of orofacial
injury sustained during participation
in sports.

4. Our kids are starting to play
competitive sports at even
younger and younger ages. It is
the parent of caregiver’s
responsibility to do everything
we can to minimize the risk of
dental injuries.
Things like broken and chipped
teeth, cut lips and cheeks, and
other forms of orofacial trauma
can be painful reminders about
how important it is to protect
our mouth during sports.
These dental injuries are not
limited to just organized
sports. If your child owns a
bicycle, you should be aware
that biking is at the top of the
list for sports-related injuries.

5. Did You Know?
 On average, 22,000 dental injuries occur annually in children under the age of 18.
 Outdoor activities and products are associated with the largest number of dental
injuries to baby (primary) teeth in children aged 7 to 12 with 50% of these incidents
related to bicycle accidents.
 Outdoor activities and products are also associated with the largest number of dental
injuries to permanent teeth in adolescents aged 13 to 17.
 Of all sports, baseball and basketball consistently produce the largest number of dental
injuries each year.
 Over 80% of all dental injuries involve the upper front teeth.
 Age, gender, condition and position of the teeth, as well as the type of sport being
played are all key risk factors associated with the likelihood of experiencing a sports
injury.
 Studies show that teenage boys involved in contact sports, collision sports, and high-
velocity non-contact sports are at the highest risks for dental injuries.
 Young girls are starting to participate in many of these same sports, and thus their risks
for injuries are climbing.

6. So, what can we do if we want to protect our
children from dental injuries such as lost,
chipped or fractured teeth?

7. Well the Academy for Sports Dentistry (ASD)
suggests that we provide our young athletes
with a properly fitted mouth guard. Studies
have shown that athletes are 60 times more
likely to sustain a dental injury when they
are not wearing one. In fact, the American
Dental Association estimates that mouth
guards prevent approximately 200,000
injuries each year in high school and college
football alone.

8. A Properly Fitted Mouth Guard Must
Have These Qualities
 Be protective
 Be comfortable
 Be resilient and tear resistant
 Be odorless and tasteless
 Not be bulky and cause minimal interference to speaking
and breathing
 And (possibly the most important criteria) have excellent
retention, fit, and sufficient thickness in critical areas

9. The American Dental Association
recommends wearing custom made
athletic mouth guards for the
following sports: baseball,
basketball, hockey, football,
wrestling, bike riding, volleyball,
skiing, soccer, basketball,
skateboarding, water polo and
weightlifting.

10. There are 3 main types of mouth guards
available
 Stock mouth guard
 Mouth-formed mouth guard
 Custom-made mouth guard
The stock mouth guard is the least expensive of the three – however,
because it is often bulky and uncomfortable, athletes don’t always
wear it regularly. The mouth-formed mouth guard is the “boil and
bite” type which is made from a thermoplastic material. After it is
softened in hot water, it is adapted to the athlete’s teeth using finger
and tongue pressure. The custom-made mouth guard is made in the
dental office from special materials. It is formed specifically for that
athlete’s mouth. Although it is more expensive than the other types,
it provides a much higher level of comfort and protection.

11. Mouth guards are absolutely critical for athletes everywhere.
The last thing you want to happen is for your child to walk
through the door, all bloodied and bruised, with teeth
missing or falling out. All because he neglected to wear a
mouth guard. Aside from the thousands of dollars in dental
work – crowns, stiches, etc.,
the trauma is often extremely
upsetting. A mouth guard can
minimize or even prevent a major
dental injury. However, only if it’s
well fitting and worn every time.
Invest in a custom mouth guard for
your athlete – then insist that he or
she wears it!

12. Contact Us
 Mark C. Marchbanks, D.D.S.
 2624 Matlock Road Suite 100, Arlington, TX 76015
 Phone: (817) 261-2747
 http://arlingtontexasdentist.net/