Fairfax Dentist Donates Protective Custom Mouth Guards to W.T. Woodson Football Program

With football season fast approaching, most local high school players are already fully engaged in those fun-filled two-a-day practices, and parents are thinking about safety.  Dr. Gordon Rye, owner of the Fairfax dental practice Rye Smiles for Life, is one of those parents.  His son plays for the W.T. Woodson football program.

This season, Dr. Rye is donating custom mouth guards to the Woodson football program, so that all of the Woodson players will have optimal oral protection on the field.  All members of the freshman, junior varsity, and varsity football teams for the 2013 season, approximately 150 students, were invited to visit Rye Smiles for Life to have an impression of their upper teeth taken so that the team at Rye Smiles for Life can make custom guards for the students.  The guards were ready for the students just in time for practice to begin the first week of August.  Coach Dishun says, “The custom guards are very popular with the players.  Since the guards are fitted to an exact dental impression, they have a comfortable fit and allow clearer vocal communication, which is an important factor.”

Dentists recommend that football players and other athletes wear custom-made mouth guards.  Custom guards are better than “off the shelf” guards at reducing the risk of injury, including, concussions, jaw dislocation or fracture, fractured or lost teeth, cuts or bruises to the mouth or face, and stress to the neck.  In addition, custom guards offer optimal comfort.  They fit better than standard guards and feel better in the mouth.  They also allow athletes to breath and speak more easily.  Athletes are more likely to wear a comfortable mouth guard, thereby minimizing the risk of injury.

If you want more information regarding athletic mouth guards, you can visit the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Statement on Athletic Mouthguards and read the ADA’s white paper:   Protecting Teeth with Mouthguards.

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