The utilization of mouth-protectors by freshman football players.

Since the National Alliance Football Rules Committee issued a mandate in 1962 to require that football players in high school and junior colleges wear mouth-protectors, oral injuries virtually have been eliminated in this group of more than 1,000,000 players.' The authoritative articles on the advantages provided by mouth-protectors indicate, prior t o their use, that dental and mouth injuries comprised approximately 50 percent of the total injuries from football. Introduction of face-guards reduced the number by about one-half, and mouth-protectors practically have eliminated the rest. In the year 1967 alone, more than 25,000 to 50,000 injuries t o players were estimated t o have been prevented by the use of mouth-protectors.' Use of the mouth-protectors also has been shown t o be a factor in reducing the incidence of concussions from a blow to the chin.*13 An unexpected result has been an observation that the number of injuries to the neck also seem to be reduced and relief provided from chronic neckproblem^.^ Considerable research has been reported on the development and testing for an optimal mouthguard. The brands which have been produced and introduced can be classified in three categories: (1) stock-protectors which come in limited standard sizes and molds and usually are purchased at sporting-goods stores or drugstores; (2) mouth-formed protectors which usually consist of an outer shell, either rigid or nonrigid, with an inner plastic material which, properly conditioned, can be introduced directly into the mouth and the imprints of the teeth recorded; and (3) custom-formed protectors fabricated on a model of the individual's mouth and usually fitted at a later appointment. Over a period of time, opinion has varied considerably about which type of protector A consensus seems t o exist that all offer some type of protection and all offer some degree of this protection. The custom-formed protector generally is accepted as the most desirable and the stock-protector as the least desirable. provides the most protection and comfort. 2 ' 3 . 4 , 5 , h , 7