Outcome 3 - Sports Mouthguards Flashcards
(21 cards)
3 Types of Mouthguards
- Commercial mouthguards
- Mouth-formed protectors
- Custom-fitted vacuum-formed guards (custom mouthguards can be fabricated easily in the dental office)
Sportsguard Benefit: Protection Against Dental Injuries
Mouthguards serve as a protective barrier, reducing the risk of dental injuries such as broken teeth, fractured jaws, and soft tissue lacerations caused by impacts during sports.
Sportsguard Benefit: Prevention of Concussions
While not as effective as helmets in preventing concussions, properly fitted mouthguards can help absorb and dissipate the forces of impact, reducing the risk of concussion in some cases by cushioning blows to the jaw an head.
Sportsguard Benefit: Reduced Risk of Tooth Loss
Mouthguards also protect the lips, tongue, and gums from injuries caused by accidental bites or impacts, reducing the risk of soft tissue lacerations and bruising
Sportsguard Benefit: Improved Performance
Custom-fitted mouthguards can be designed to provide a comfortable and secure fit, allowing atheletes to breathe, speak, and drink water more easily during sports activities without compromising protection.
Sportsguard Benefit: Enhanced Comfort
Mouth guards are custom-fitted to each athlete’s mouth, providing a comfortable and secure fit that allows for natural jaw movement and minimizes discomfort during wear
Sportsguard Benefit: Customized Options
Mouthguards can be customized to suit individual preferences and needs, with options for thickness, material type, colour, and design, allowing athletes to express their personality while staying protected.
Sportsguard Benefit: Compliance with Saftey Regulations
In many sports leagues and organizations, wearing a mouth guard is mandatory for participation, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and reducing the risk of penalties and disqualification
Sportsguard Benefit: Long-Term Oral Health Benefits
By protecting the teeth and surrounding tissues from injuries, mouth guards help maintain long-term oral health, reducing the need for costly and invasive dental treatments.
Fabricating Sports Mouthguard Steps
- Impression Taking
- Model Fabrication
- Material Selection
- Heating and Forming
- Cooling and Trimming
- Finishing and Polishing
- Optional Customization
- Final Fitting
- Educate the Athlete
Fabricating Sportsguard: Impression Taking
Take an impression of the athlete’s teeth using dental impression materials. This can be done using alginate, silicone, or another suitable material.
Fabricating Sportsguard: Model Fabrication
Pour dental stone or plaster into the impression to create a stone model of the athlete’s teeth. This model will serve as the basis for fabricating the mouth guard.
Fabricating Sportsguard: Material Selection
Choose a suitable mouthguard material based on the athlete’s needs and preferences. Common materials include ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) thermoplastics, which offer flexibility, durability, and shock absorption
Fabricating Sportsguard: Heating and Forming
-Heat the selected mouthguard material using a specialized heating device or water bath until it becomes pliable
-Place the heated material over the stone model and use pressure to form it to the contours of the teeth and gums, ensuring a snug and comfortable fit
Fabricating Sportsguard: Cooling and Trimming
-Allow the mouth guard to cool and harden, either by air cooling or using a cooling bath
-Once hardened, trim any excess material using scissors or a scalpel to ensure a smooth and comfortable fit
Fabricating Sportsguard: Finishing and Polishing
Use fine-grit sandpaper or polishing discs to smooth and polish the edges of the mouthguard, removing any rough or sharp areas that could cause discomfort
Fabricating Sportsguard: Optional Customization
If desired, customize the mouth guard with the athletes name, team logo, or other personalized details using dental decals or paint
Fabricating Sportsguard: Final Fitting
Have the athlete try on the mouth guard to ensure proper fit, comfort, and functionality. Make any necessary adjustments to ensure a secure and comfortable fit
Delivery of Sportsguard
- Disinfect the mouthguard before the delivery appointment and store it in a manner that will maintain the aspesis.
- Instruct the patient to place the mouthguard over the maxillary teeth, making sure it has snapped into place over all teeth.
- Using a mouth mirror, check that the mouthguard is seated correctly and does not impinge on any tissue. (adjust with scissors if necessary)
- Have the patient bite together and check that a normal occlusion is acheived. (adjust with a hot lab spatula or an acrylic bur if necessary)
- Have the patient remove the mouthguard to ensure ease of use.
- Polish any areas of the mouthguard that were adjusted for fit.
- Provide the patient with care instructions.
Post Op & Care Instructions for Sports Mouthguard
-You must wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and tissue from trauma. Wear it for all contact sports and activities where there may be forceful closure of the teeth.
-Keep the mouthguard clean with warm soapy water and clear water rinse, or antibacterial mouthwash.
-When not wearing the mouthguard, place it in a closed container. The container should have small holes in it so that the mouthguard can dry properly.
-Keep the mouthguard in a cool area. Direct sunlight or extreme heat may cause it to distort.
-If the mouthguard becomes damaged or no longer fits correctly over your teeth, contact the dental office to have it replaced.
IPC Standards for Sportsguard
-After removal from the patient’s mouth, impressions must be disinfected according to the manufacturer’s instructions on the disinfectant material.
-PPE should include mask, gloves, lab coat and protective eyewear. the eyewear is essential when working with handpieces and lathes. An eyewash station must be available in the lab and clinic setting.
-All materials should be thoroughly cleaned of all debris, disinfected with a low-level disinfectant and thoroughly rinsed before being handled in the in-office laboratory or sent to an office-site laboratory.
-If laboratory items (eg. burs, polishing points, rag wheels or laboratory knives) are used on contaminated or potentially contaminated appliances, prostheses or other material, they must be cleaned, heat sterilized and disinfected betweeen patietns or discared after patient use.
