Tyler and Nelson⁽¹⁾ state that each year, more than 300,000 people suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBI's) while playing a sport, most of which are concussions. What an athlete experiences during a concussion is actually a temporary, trauma-induced alteration in mental status. Many concussions occur without the individual ever losing consciousness, but researchers have determined that repeated mild brain injuries occurring over an extended period (i.e., months or years can result in cumulative neurologic and cognitive deficits, but repeated mild brain injuries occurring within a short period (i.e., hours, days, weeks) can be catastrophic or fatal. The latter phenomenon, termed "second impact syndrome" has been reported more frequently since it was first characterized in 1984. Sports concussions have become more publicized recently, as celebrity athletes announce early retirement, and tragic accidents and major lawsuits in sports are covered more closely by the media.

With a MaxxgardTM, a minimum 3-5mm space is maintained between your teeth right through to the jaw joint. This critical space in combination with a perfect bit impression of the lower teeth into the MaxxgardTM separates the lower jaw from the base of the skull. This in turn greatly reduces the risk of the jaw joint being violated from an impact to the lower jaw.

Concussive and subconcussive blows are continually transmitted to the jaw joint during games and practices through blows to the head, chin and face cages. During a blow to the chin, in most instances, the temporal bone is violated as it houses and ports the cranial nerve trunks as they exit the base of the brain, blood supply to the brain, and auditory and balance mechanisms. In an article titled "New Findings on Importance of Athletic Mouthguards" published in 1998 by Scott J. Stewart, D.D.S. and John Witzig, D.D.S. the authors suggest that almost all (over 90%) brain concussions resulting in unconciousness to athletes come from a blow or trauma to the jaw ⁽²⁾.

The Canadian Hockey League states that 14% of all injuries sustained during the 1998-1999 season in Major Junior Hockey were concussions. This represented a 6% increase over the previous season. Career threatening concussive injuries in high profile players such as Pat Lafontaine, Geoff Courtnall, Jeff Beukaboom, Brett and Eric Lindros, Paul Kariya and Mike Modano should make this issue top of mind with organizers, coaches and parents of young athletes.

There is growing awareness in the public, medical and the sports communities, that a properly fitted mouthguard is a critical component in an athletes safety. As a dentist you are on the front line of this important education process.
 

To further your knowledge of sports related oral facial injuries, concussions and athletic mouthguards please browse through the following links.

Dr Ray Padilla is one of the leading sports dentists in North America. His website, Sports Dentistry Online, gives a comprehensive look at sport related oral facial injuries, concussion, injury treatments, practice building with mouthguards and much more.
www.sportsdentistry.com

Here is a very informative article titled "Second Impact Syndrome: Sports Confront the Consequences of Concussion" that appeared in USA Today (Magazine) in May 1, 2000. The authors discuss the numerous high profile hockey concussion injuries of late and the use of mouthguards to help reduce concussion risk.
www.buildingbetterhealth.com/article/iac/100246456

Department of Otolaryngology Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center in Baltimore, Maryland has put up this condensed page to advise the public of the merits of athletic mouthguards.
www.med.jhu.edu/otolar/who/oralhealth/prevention/guard.html

The Doctors Who's Who website called "Toothless is cute in babies not in youth participating in sports" is a good quick reference for sport injury facts. It could also be suggested reading for your young patient's parents!
www.doctorswhoswho.com/medical_news/in_the_news/archive/apr00/

 
The National Youth Sports Foundation for the Prevention of Athletic Injuries, Inc. reports several interesting statistics. Dental injuries are the most common type or orofacial injury sustained during participation in sports. Victims of total tooth avulsions who do not have teeth properly preserved or replanted may face lifetime dental costs of $10,000 - $15,000 per tooth, hours in the dentist's chair, and the possible development of other dental problems such as periodontal disease.

It is estimated by the American Dental Association that mouthguards prevent approximately 200,000 injuries each year in high school and collegiate football alone.