CUSTOM-MADE MOUTHGUARD
PLAY SPORTS SAFELY WITH A CUSTOM-MADE MOUTHGUARD
CUSTOM-MADE MOUTHGUARDS IN MISSISSAUGA
PREVENT SPORTS-RELATED INJURIES WITH A CUSTOM-MADE MOUTHGUARD
Do you play sports? If yes, you should use appropriate face and head protection, including a properly fitted mouthguard, during the sporting activity to minimize the risk of injury to your face and protect your smile.
According to Canadian Institute for Health Information, during 2018-2019, 26,937 Canadians were hospitalised due to sports and winter injuries. Cycling accounted for the highest number of injuries (3,919), followed by all-terrain vehicles (2,442), playground (1,859), ski/snowboard (1,800), and snowmobiles (1,089). Although a hockey puck is a 170-gram piece of solid rubber that can hit a player’s mouth at a speed of up to 193 kilometres per hour or a player can fall on the ice, hockey contributed 655 hospitalisations, representing less than 2.5% of all hospitalisations.
Injury prevention is critical because if you experience an oral and maxillofacial injury, you will have to cope with the short- and medium-term challenges of treatment and recovery. In addition, there may be potentially significant long-term consequences on your health and quality of life.
Mouthguards are required or commonly used in some contact sports such as hockey, boxing, football and lacrosse. Sports mouthguards are mandatory in Canada for most minor hockey players, amateur football, amateur rugby, karate, taekwondo, lacrosse and amateur boxing.
A mouthguard can help you prevent dental and orofacial injuries if you play other contact and non-contact sports such as baseball, softball, gymnastics or skateboarding. If you experience a direct blow to your jaw or teeth, a mouthguard can act as a shock absorber.
Therefore, a mouthguard should be a key piece of your sports gear regardless of your age.
Despite the benefits of mouthguards, only 1 in 5 players actually wears a mouthguard.
A MOUTHGUARD CAN SAVE YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
Sports injuries can have a range of effects on you – embarrassment, avoiding social contacts, negatively impact your ability to eat and speak.
In addition, treating a sports-related dental injury can cost you thousands of dollars (life time cost of treating a front tooth can be between $5,000 to $20,000). Therefore, wearing a custom-made mouthguard can be money well spent.
The Academy for Sports Dentistry recommends that you wear a properly fitted mouthguard if you participate in any of the following activities:
FOR PROTECTION AND COMFORT WEAR A CUSTOM-MADE MOUTHGUARD THAT FITS
Although you or your child can choose to purchase a ready-made mouthguard at a store, you should wear a custom made by your dentist mouthguard that:
If you wear braces or other appliances, a custom-made mouthguard can accommodate the orthodontic treatment process.
The more comfortable your mouthguard, the more likely you are to wear it regularly. Generally, mouthguards last for 2 to 3 seasons of play.
Talk to your dentist at our dental office in Mississauga about mouthguards and select the type that works for your needs and budget. She will consider several factors when fitting you for a mouthguard, including: