Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to do the following:

1. Understand the basic differences between various types of athletic mouth guards.
2. Recognize the differences and variations in fit and levels of protection offered by different mouth guards.
3. Understand the role of the health professional in decision-making as to which types of mouth guards should be used in specific situations.
4. Know the difference between vacuum fabrication and pressure fabrication of athletic mouth guards.
5. Realize the importance of a properly fitted mouth guard and the athlete's compliance in wearing it.

Athletic mouth guards are not "one size fits all" propositions. They should be specifically prescribed and designed according to many factors such as age of patient, sport being played, level of competition, and previous history of injury. This course will describe the different types of athletic mouth guards and provide information that will enable the dentist to give patients the opportunity to make an informed choice as to what they need for true protection.

1. Introduction
   
   
   1. Sports dentistry - definition
      
      
   2. Sports dental injuries
      
      
   3. Dental protection in sports - discussion
      
   
   
2. Role of the Health Professional
   
   
   1. Trainer
      
      
   2. Coach
      
   
   
3. Injury Rate Statistics and Patterns
   
   
   1. Overview - Protection vs. Unprotected
      
      
   2. Studies
      
      
      1. ADA
         
         
      2. Flanders and Mohandas
         
         
      3. Victoria Injury Surveillance
         
      
      
   3. NCAA Injury Reports
      
   
   
4. Concussion Prevention Link
   
   
   1. Stenger
      
      
   2. Hickey
      
      
   3. Chapman
      
   
   
5. Need for Protective Mouth Guards
   
   
   1. Criteria for selection
      
      
   2. Types available
      
      
      1. Stock
         
         
      2. Boil-and-Bite
         
         
      3. Custom Made
         
         
         1. Vacuum
            
            
         2. Pressure Laminated
            
   
   
6. Professionally Fabricated Mouth Guards
   
   
   1. Vacuum
      
      
      1. Fabrication method
         
         
      2. Disadvantages
      
      
   2. Pressure Laminated
      
      
      1. Fabrication method
         
         
      2. Comparison with vacuum type
         
   
   
7. Summary
   

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2. Hickey, Morris, Carlson, Seward. The Relation of Mouth Protectors to Cranial Pressure and Deformation. Journal of the American Dental Association. 1967; 74
3. Stenger, Lawson, Wright, and Ricketts. Mouth guards - Protection Against Shock to Head, Neck, and Teeth, Journal of the American Dental Association, 1964;69
4. Heintz W. Mouth Protection in Sports. Journal of Physician and Sports Medicine.1979, 7:45-46.
5. Flanders, RA Mohandas, B, The Incidence of Orofacial Injuries of Sports, A Pilot Study in Illinois. Journal of the American Dental Association 1995; 126: 491-496.
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7. Dorney B, Dental Screening for Rugby Players in New South Wales, Australia. FDI World. 1998;
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9. The National Collegiate Athletic Association. NCAA Injury Surveillance System1997-98. Overland Park, KS: NCAA; 1999.
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11. Hunter K, Sports Mouth Guards. Dental Health Foundation - Australia, University of Sydney, 1998.
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13. Erkopress. Erkodent Products. NSW Australia:
14. Hodges Healthcare Products; Biostar. Great Lakes Orthodontics Ltd. Tonawanda, NY :
15. Drufomat. Dreve Dental. Colorado Springs, Colorado. Westone Laboratories, Inc;