Team Dentist
Gwinnett
Gladiators
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Concussion Prevention Appliance* Suwanee Dental
Care's Dr. Bill Williams Is The First Certified Sports Dentist in the
Southeastern for The Maher Mouthguard |
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Are You Sure You and Your Child Robert Clyburn, a high school football player near Northwest Atlanta was the first student-athlete to receive a Maher Mouthguard in Georgia. |
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The Maher Mouth Guard Many mouth guards have been created over the years, but The Maher Mouth Guard, developed by Dr. Gerald Maher, is the first to allow for comfortable breathing, speaking and drinking. This streamlined device aids in concussion  prevention
and has come a long way from its cumbersome, bulky ancestors. The
Maher Mouth Guard fits comfortably and covertly on the back molars
and is comprised of an acrylic mold held together by three small
stainless steel bands that rests behind the teeth and stabilizes the jaw
on impact. Dr. Maher, who has worked with the New England Patriots since
the 1970s, specializes in protective athletic mouth wear.Since developing this product, no NFL player wearing The Maher Mouth Guard has ever succumbed to a concussion from a blow to the jaw! The Maher 
Mouth Guard should be worn whenever there is a distinct possibility
of contact with any hard object, including: another person, a ball, puck
or stick, a wall or even the ground.You want to have the best protection
against sports injury. But do you know if you are getting the best
protection? |
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 What
Is A Concussion?Mild concussions may go unnoticed by coaches and teammates - even by the athletes themselves. A concussion is traumatic injury to the brain. It can cause immediate impairment of functions including vision, thought, consciousness and balance, and even more serious permanent damage such as memory loss and depression. For every concussion you get, you are FOUR TIMES more susceptible to get another! 
Read More - High School Stats
Read More - College Stats  Causes of a Concussion Impact to the Jaw: If there is not adequate cushioning of the jawbones, they can be pushed into the base of the skull and even the brain cavity. This dangerous blow can disrupt brain function and activity causing a concussion as well as other skull damage. Forceful Blow to the Head: A concussion can take place when suffering a forceful blow to the head. When this happens, the head accelerates rapidly and is then suddenly stopped. Although head movement has halted, the brain, which is floating in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), is shaken and hits the interior skull wall. Shaking: When the skull is moved vigorously or shaken side to side, the head moves rapidly and the brain, floating in CSF collides repeatedly into the skull walls. This constant repetitive motion can cause serious disorientation and brain injury. Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion Symptoms reported by concussion sufferers include:
Long term effects: No athlete should return to play while still demonstrating any signs or symptoms of concussion at rest or with exertion (i.e., exercising). |
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 Why
Should I Wear The Maher Mouth Guard?Our custom-made athletic mouth guard is orthopedically positioned to significantly help reduce the trauma, pain and expensive treatment associated with all athletic injuries, on a professional, amateur, school-related and/or recreational level. It is useful for everyone, no matter whether they are: male or female, young or old, a rookie or veteran. Mouth & Tooth Protection The Maher Mouth Guard is custom-fit and can prevent or lessen the impact of cuts and other trauma to the lips, cheeks, gums, tongue and mouth - specifically your teeth when worn in conjunction with a facemask and helmet. A tooth does not "heal" like other body tissue and often requires extensive treatment to become functional after suffering an injury.  Skull
& Brain ProtectionLess obvious, but no less significant, is the role a mouth guard plays in helping to prevent concussions. Reports of, and emphasis on, concussive injuries have increased significantly due to media coverage and publicity surrounding "post-concussion syndrome" (permanent brain damage resulting from multiple concussions). Current research is showing that a concussion is more than a "ding" to the skull. It can cause serious neurological injury, varying from sluggishness or loss of balance, to more serious problems such as: memory loss, depression, migraine headaches or Alzheimer's disease, just to name a few. Even when the incident occurs in a younger athlete, the effects of such a blow can create major problems later in life. The Maher Mouth Guard is well-fitted and a smart investment for athletes of all ages. Concussive injuries are easy to avoid, yet difficult (sometimes impossible) to rectify. Therefore, investing in a mouth guard and following as many preventive measures as possible is worthwhile. When Should I Wear The Maher Mouth Guard? The Maher Mouth Guard should be worn whenever there is a distinct possibility of contact with any hard object, including: another person, a ball, puck or stick, a wall or even the ground. |
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 Gerald
J. Maher, D.M.D., F.A.H.N.P.Dr. Gerald J. Maher has practiced dentistry for more than 30 years. Specializing in TMJ and Facial Pain, Dr. Maher is a Fellow in the American Academy of Facial Pain. He received his D.M.D. from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in 1973 and became a team dentist for the New England Patriots in 1979. It was in this role that he was able to create and test The Maher Mouth Guard to meet the players' specific requests and needs. Dr. Maher is an active member of several dental organizations, including: The American Dental Society; the Massachusetts Dental Society; Academy of General Dentistry; Academy of Stress and Chronic Disease, American Academy of Sports Medicine; and The American Academy of Head, Neck and Facial Pain, to name a few. He is a staff doctor at Jordan Hospital, Professor of Dental Science at Massasoit Community College and serves on the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance, TMJ & Oral Surgery Advisory Panel. Dr. Maher has also published several articles on TMJ dysfunctions. He has lectured throughout the nation on subjects ranging from "Cranial Neurology" to "Stress Related Facial Pain in Athletics." |
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| Recurrent Concussions May Be Linked To
Depression Retired football players who suffered three or four concussions have twice the risk of later developing clinical depression -- a risk that rises with even more injuries, new research says. Read More >> High School Concussion Study Concussions in contact sports are an ongoing problem despite increased awareness in the use of preventative measures to control them. Football, hockey and boxing are recognized as the sports in which brain trauma is the most common. Read More >> American Academy of Orofacial Pain Peer Reviewed Abstract The Use of a Custom Mandibular Athletic Mouthguard in the Prevention of Concussions in NFL Football Players. Read More >> Stenger Study This five year study of head and neck injuries suffered by college football players indicates that mouthguards may afford protection to structures other than the teeth. Read More >> National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement Sports in today’s society is more popular than probably ever imagined. Large numbers of athletes participate in a variety of youth, high school, collegiate, professional, and recreational sports. Read More >> Aetna InteliHealth Concussion Description About 8 million people suffer head injuries in the United States each year. Less than 10 percent require hospitalization, and most of these people have only minor injuries. Read More >> Mayo Clinic Concussion Description Your brain floats within your skull surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). One of the functions of CSF is to cushion the brain from light bounces of everyday movement. Read More >> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Patient Materials on Traumatic Brain Injury This brochure explains what can happen after a concussion, how to get better, and where to go for more information and help when needed. Read More >> University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Concussion Studies A high school athlete with a history of three or more concussions who sustains a new concussion may be up to nine times more likely to experience common symptoms compared to high school athletes with no history of concussion, according to a University of Pittsburgh study, published in the November issue of the journal Neurosurgery. Read More >> University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Concussion Studies The UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, established in 2000, is an ongoing clinical service and research program that focuses on the diagnosis, evaluation and management of sports-related concussion in athletes of all levels. Read More >> Cumulative effects associated with recurrent concussion in collegiate football players: the NCAA Concussion Study Approximately 300,000 sport-related concussions occur annually in the United States, and the likelihood of serious sequelae may increase with repeated head injury. Read More >>
Febraury 2006 "ESPN Feature Story" click to read.
Check
out the American Academy of Orofacial Pain Peer Reviewed Abstract! |
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| THE ROLE OF PARENTS, TRAINERS AND TEACHERS | ||
| Our role is to encourage that mouthguards be worn for all sports and recreation activities when there is a chance for facial injury. We have to remember the long term affects of lost teeth in teens. All players need to consider what sports that they are playing, at what level of competition. Think about the way your teammates play or better yet how your opponents play. Even players in the minor league can be quite intense. Think about the confidence you will have playing with a mouth guard that feels like it is part of you and not acting as a distraction. Don’t forget to wear your mouth guard during practice or training sessions. Remember when a tooth is lost it is lost forever, and with the proper custom mouth guard you will have more choice, protection and more comfort, all translating in to you having a better game. (Photos of Dr. Williams at the International Academy for Sports Dentistry Annual Symposium in San Juan, Puerto Rico: I II )
Link to Sports Dentistry Web Site |
