Oral injuries are a common occurrence. From broken or chipped teeth, to injuries of the tongue, lips, face or jaw, oral injuries are easy to sustain. 39% of all dental injuries are sustained while playing sports, and of those injuries, about 75% affect at least one of the most visible teeth in the mouth. Sana Dental is pleased to offer sports guards to help prevent or minimize such injuries.
A sports guard is a custom-made dental appliance that is worn over the teeth to protect the teeth and mouth from injuries occurring to the face and head. Anyone who participates in a sport should consider getting a sports guard. While you can find over-the-counter ready-made boil sports guards, and they do provide some protection, they do not fit as well as custom-made ones, and they can be bulky and make speaking and breathing difficult, which also lessens their effectiveness. Sana Dental is pleased to offer the custom-made Pure Power Mouthguard.
The Pure Power Mouthguard is based on the principles of Neuromuscular Dentistry, which has been practiced for the last 50 years. Neuromuscular Dentistry embodies well accepted scientific principles, and objectively evaluates the complex relationship between teeth, temporomandibular joints and the masticatory muscles, in order to achieve an occlusion (bite) that is based on the optimal relationship between the mandible and the skull.
The goal of the Neuromuscular Dentist is to relax the muscles that control the jaw position and establish a true physiological rest position, which allows for better alignment between the jaw and TMJ. Better alignment directly affects the posture of the head and cervical area, and since the head is considered to be the top block of the body, aligning the head and neck will allow for better alignment of the rest of the body. Better alignment means better efficiency and therefore allows for increased balance and flexibility. Studies have shown that the position of the jaw affects postural stability.
Advocates of TMJ splinting for sports performance believe that the jaw is also a balance point of body power. If your jaw is out of proper alignment, as is the case with most people, your body will try to compensate for this sensory distraction, and the compensation will sap strength and concentration from your motoring muscles. By realigning the jaw joint with an appliance, you release power and energy to your legs and arms.
True relaxation of the jaw muscles is accomplished using a TENS device (Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation), which induces involuntary muscle contractions controlled by the facial and mandibular cranial nerves. The most relaxed jaw position is captured using a jaw tracking device and electromyography, through a particular evaluation system called the K-7 evaluation system, which uses various impressions to capture the jaw position.
As the TENS device helps relax the jaw, the jaw will naturally come forward and down. When this happens, it allows for the widening of the airway, thus allowing for better oxygen intake. Since the optimal position is captured by our impression using the K-7 system, we fabricate a custom PPM to enhance this optimal position.
If you play any kind of sport, you should consider a custom fitted sports PPM to protect your teeth. If you have any questions or concerns about sports guards, or you would like to set up an appointment to be fitted for a custom PPM, call us at (780) 476-3391 and we will be happy to help.
Call us at (780) 476-3391 to set up your Sport Guard today!