Does your child play sports? Chances are good that one or more of your children do. Youth and adolescent sports participation has grown steadily over the years. Today, perhaps over 25 million kids participate in some sort of competitive sport, be it in after school programs, extra-curricular programs, community programs, or otherwise. For many sports, helmets, pads, and other protection is required, but how many children do you see actually protecting their teeth?
Dental Injuries
Because youth sports have grown, so has the level of childhood sports related injuries. Some studies have reported that 36 percent of all accidental injuries to children and adolescents are sports related, and of those 10 to 20 percent are maxillofacial injuries. According to The National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety, when it comes to sports injuries, the most common type of orofacial injuries are dental related. According to the Foundation, an athlete is 60 times more likely to sustain damage to the dentition when not wearing a mouth guard. Many of these injuries result in permanent damage that may require extensive medical intervention that can cost considerable amounts of money.
Dental Protection
Generic mouth guards can be purchased at any sporting goods store, and even some pharmacies. However, they tend to be one-size-fits-all, and can cause unnecessary oral discomfort. Here at Austin Prosthodontics, we can custom-fabricate an appliance that provides a higher level of protection and comfort.
