Sports Dentistry
Dr. Denison believes that it is very important that athletes protect themselves against possible injuries that can occur when participating in sports. He is very active in educating his patients about the types of injuries that occur and what athletes can do to protect themselves against mouth injuries.
Athletes involved in contact sports such as football, hockey, boxing and martial arts naturally understand that wearing protective oral devices is necessary. Athletes involved in other sports traditionally classified as non contact sports such as baseball, basketball, soccer, wrestling and racquetball also benefit from wearing properly fitted mouthguards.
Dental injuries are the most common type of oral facial injuries sustained during participation in sports and loss of a tooth can lead to a lifetime of expensive dental treatments to repair and maintain the injured area. Because of this, mouth guard design and fabrication are extremely important. There are basically four types of mouth guards available; Stock, Boil and Bite, Vacuum Custom made, and Pressure Laminated Custom made. Dr. Denison believes that stock and boil and bite mouth guards purchased at drug stores or sporting good stores do not provide the optimum treatment needed. Differences in mouth shapes, the presence of baby teeth and permanent teeth in young athletes as well as the type of sport that the athlete is playing are all factors to be considered when getting a sports guard. The ‘one size fits nobody' types are not adequate in most instances. For patients with braces, special designs for the mouth guards are essential to allow for orthodontic movement without compromising on fit. This can only be achieved through consultations with your dentist.
Dr. Denison provides Under Armour Performance Mouthwear™ which has proven to not only protect an athlete's teeth, but also improve physical performance. ArmourBite™ patented mouth wear developed by BiteTech,Inc., relieves pressure on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and prevents the excessive production of performance-sapping hormones. By reducing these hormones athletes have been shown to have extended periods of higher performance and concentration.
If you or a family member are involved in sports it is very important that a properly made protective mouth guard is part of your equipment. Talk to Dr Denison about the different styles that are available and what might work best for you.
