April 2011
The Australian Dental Association South Australia is calling for mouthguards to be mandatory for all children playing contact sports after study results released today show only around one third (36%) of children aged 5 to 17 have a mouthguard and wear it when playing sport.
Alarmingly, the number of children wearing mouthguards during training for contact sports drops to just 19%. The study was undertaken by Newspoll* on behalf of the ADA.
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) says the majority of children who play contact sports are not wearing a mouthguard and this leaves them at significant risk of painful and costly dental injuries.
President of the ADASA, Dr Angela Pierce says the Association believes mouthguards, like bike helmets, should be mandatory for children when they are playing contact sports where there’s a risk of dental injury.
“The research shows that 66% of parents who have children playing contact sports believe it should be compulsory for children to wear mouthguards, and the ADA supports this position.
“Suffering a knocked out or damaged tooth is extremely painful. Add the cost of repair to the tooth, and in the case of a young person who has their secondary teeth, a lifetime of on-going treatment, the cost becomes significant, potentially in the vicinity of $10,000 – $20,000.
“The ADA believes mouthguards should be mandatory for any person who trains and plays a contact sport,” says Dr Pierce.
The ADA endorses custom-fitted mouthguards because they provide the greatest protection and are the most comfortable to wear.
A custom-fitted mouthguard means an impression has been taken of a person’s teeth and a mouthguard is made to fit the individual’s teeth and jaw.
Over-the-counter or ‘boil and bite’ mouthguards do not take into account the shape of an individual’s mouth meaning the fit is not optimal, leading to a significant reduction in effectiveness and in some cases increasing the risk of tooth damage.
Despite custom-fitted mouthguards providing the most effective protection to teeth when compared to over-the-counter mouthguards, the research found that only 35 per cent of children who wear a mouthguard are wearing a custom-fitted mouthguard, tailored to their teeth and jaw.
A properly fitted mouthguard is a worthy investment when compared to the significant costs associated with repairing damaged teeth.
The ADA has developed a website, www.mouthguardawareness.info where people can find out more information on mouthguards and first aid tips in the case of a dental emergency.
*Research conducted on the Newspoll National Telephone Omnibus, between 10-12 December 2010, amongst 170 parents of children 11-17 who play contact sport.
Issued By Hughes Public Relations: Simon Hatcher on simon@hughespr.com.au
