Dentally fitted laminated mouthguards worn on the upper jaw offer best protection during sports

There appears to be much confusion or misinformation worldwide regarding mouthguards and their use in sports. In an effort to clarify where the international dental community stands on mouthguards and mouthguard research, the workshop looked at some important questions.

The goal was to one day formulate consensus statements related to these questions, which will be based on current scientific evidence-based research, to motivate the international community of the importance of dentally fitted laminated mouthguards and the wearing of them by athletes of all sports.

There are only five sports in the United States that require the use of mouthguards.

The summary of workshop findings

• Fitted, laminated mouthguards offer the best protection
• Cover distal of maxillary first permanent molar
• Minimum thickness should be 3 mm labially and occlusally, and 2 mm palatally
• Occlusion should be bilateral and balanced
• Effect on impact force
• A fitted, laminated mouthguard reduces impact force to teeth
• Clenching with a mouthguard in place enhances impact force reduction
• There is no effect on impact force to the head
• Effect on performance enhancement
• Mouthguard use does affect stomatognathic function related to static or dynamic balance in postural control
• There is a positive correlation between biting force level and increased limb muscle activity
• A positive correlation exists between biting force level and neurophysiologic excitability. This contributes to postural stance stabilization and joint fixation.
• Sports drinks and nutrition
• The oral health of athletes, in general, is poor and may negatively affect athletic performance
• Sports and energy drinks may increase the risk of dental caries and tooth erosion
• The risk of caries and erosion did not increase with the use of mouthguards during ingestion of sports and energy drinks
• The risk of caries and erosion did not increase with the use of mouthguards during ingestion of sports and energy drinks

Thus, if, through workshops such as this, the importance of wearing dentally fitted laminated mouthguards can be demonstrated, then more sports may require their athletes to wear them.

Reference:

Mouthguards and their use in sports: Report of the 1st International Sports Dentistry Workshop, 2016 by Jeffrey D. Lloyd et al. published in the Dental Traumatology.

https://doi.org/10.1111/edt.12375