I am very impressed with the service and care from all personal at Oakmont Advanced Dentistry. From the moment I entered the office for my 6-month cleaning/exam, I was greeted by friendly receptionist, and then taken to exam room by technician, who was very pleasant. She explained what she was going to do (X-rays) and was very careful while doing so. The hygienist was excellent! She was so careful and meticulous with cleaning, being careful not to damage the gum tissue. I met the dentist who was most welcoming and did a great exam, and made recommendations and explained them. When I left, all office staff in front were so nice, and I told them how impressed I was with the way the office was run. Highly recommend!
Quick question: Which of these athletes is the least likely to suffer a dental injury?
- Football player
- High school wrestler
- Basketball player
The answer is C, which may be a surprise to some of you. In fact, basketball causes the highest number of dental injuries for athletes between the ages of 13 and 17.
With the winters sports season upon us, our team at Oakmont Advanced Dentistry wanted to share a reminder about the importance of wearing athletic mouthguards when you are taking the court, the mat, or the ice.
To get a custom-made mouthguard for yourself or someone in your family, call 412-206-6825 to make an appointment at our office in Oakmont, PA.
Your Perfect Smile Deserves Protection
Back before mouthguards were a standard part of football uniforms, an estimated 1 in 4 football injuries involved teeth. Today, less than 1 percent of football injuries are dental in nature.
That’s a great illustration of how much of a different the right protection can make. We want you to enjoy playing whatever sport you prefer. We also want to to keep smiling when the games are over.
Athletes who don’t wear mouthguards are 60 times more likely to suffer dental injuries than athletes who do. In other words, wearing a mouthguard during any high-impact sport goes a long way toward reducing your risk of a broken or knocked-out tooth.
There’s a reason the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and other professional dental organizations all recommend wearing mouthguards. More specifically, they recommend custom-fitted mouthguards for the best protection.
So who should be wearing a mouthguard? You should if you sport involves any of the following:
- Flying objects meant to be thrown or caught (e.g. pucks, balls, etc.)
- Frequents changes in speed
- Jumping
- Physical contact between players
Any one of those things raises your risk of a dental injury, which is why we hope you are wearing a mouthguard or will start wearing one soon.
Avoid the Bulk
Mouthguards — much like seat belts — won’t stop an accident from occurring. However, they can minimize the effects of that accident. Ask yourself this: Would you rather have a sore lip or lose some teeth?
That’s also why it’s important to find a mouthguard that provides the best protection and is comfortable to wear.
Over-the-counter mouthguards are better than nothing. But they can be bulky, which can affect how well some people are able to breathe. It also can prevent you from communicating well with your teammates.
In contrast, our mouthguards are small, which means you can breathe, drink water, and speak without taking your mouthguard out. This kind of convenience also makes athletes more likely to wear their mouthguards during practices and games.
Stay in the Game
A dental injury should be considered a dental emergency . While we can help, we would much rather help you and your loved ones prevent those kinds of problems.
To get mouthguards for the athletes in your family, call Oakmont Advanced Dentistry today at 412-206-6825 or contact us online to request an appointment soon.