ABC Dentistry Offering Free Mouth Guards to Young Athletes

Any parent with a child participating in youth sports knows all too well the damage a collision, a fall, an errant ball, puck or elbow can do to their child’s smile. While some sports such as football and lacrosse mandate that mouth guards be worn to protect athletes, many sports don’t. The damage caused by a sports injury can cost thousands of dollars to repair, based on the extent of the damage. In an effort to help protect young athletes, ABC Dentistry and Orthodontics in Schaumburg has announced a new program offering their child patients who participate in sports free custom made mouth guards.

“We see this as a great way to give back to our community, to eliminate one thing for parents to worry about, and to help educate the community on the proper care and protection of the mouth, teeth and jaws of young athletes,” said ABC Dentistry’s Dr. John Cordell, DDS. “A properly fitted mouth guard can reduce injuries to the lips, teeth and jaws by as much as seventy-five percent.” In addition to teeth being chipped or knocked out, sports-related injuries can include root fractures as well as damage to the jaw and cuts and bruises to the lips. A well-designed and properly fitted mouth guard works by absorbing the energy from the site of impact and distributing the remaining energy safely throughout the area.

Priced up to $200, custom made guards offer the best and most reliable protection against injuries, and are the most comfortable to wear while competing. In addition to providing the custom mouth guards to current patients at no cost ABC Dentistry will also make them available to non-patients for just $10.

“We feel it is important that parents, coaches, and officials take an active role in ensuring children use protective equipment to help prevent sports-related injuries,” said Cordell. “Our goal is to educate our patients on the value of good protection and the many ways in which a properly fitted mouth guard can prevent costly and permanent injuries. We put a great deal of effort into teaching about brushing, flossing and proper dental care for children but many people overlook protection in increasingly fast and contact-oriented activities.”

For those interested in the mouth guard offer, contact ABC Dentistry and Orthodontics at 847-882-3360 for an appointment. Information about the Schaumburg practice can be found at www.abcdds.com.