Dentists Rave about Athletic Mouthguards

In this survey, we asked dentists about mouthguards and the Pure Power Mouthguard (PPM). Fully nine out of ten dentists surveyed believe mouthguards can improve athletic performance.

That’s a claim made by the inventor of the PPM, a device designed with neuromuscular principles in mind. The goal of the PPM is to improve breathing (and therefore performance) by allowing the airways to relax.

While general dentists are quite taken with the PPM, specialists are far less convinced. Of those who responded to this survey, only one in three said that a mouthguard can make you a better athlete.

Every last one of the dentists who offer the Pure Power Mouthguard believe mouthguards can improve performance, and they offered rave reviews. “Absolute improvement! It's the science behind it,” said one.

Among dentists who don’t sell the PPM, only three-quarters (77%) were convinced a mouthguard can make a better athlete.

"The double-blind research studies are coming out, but you need to ask the athletes who are using them and have seen the increase in strength, flexibility and balance," said one general dentist. "Terrell Owens has actually been timed running faster with his PPM in."

Here are some more comments from dentists:

"Until we see a proven clinical study, there is no proof the PPM works. Anyone remember BreatheRite strips? They supposedly increased oxygen flow, but were shown to do nothing.” (General dentist)
"A 15-year-old football player patient of mine recently received PPM. According to his dad, he is kicking the ball 40% farther. 70 yard punts and 45 yard FG's!" (Canada dentist)
"Patient usually reject due to cost. Sport stores sell them for 3-5 dollars. I charge 350+ and recommend different types for different sports.” (Indiana dentist)
"The PPM is the best thing to happen to the dentistry and the public since bonding agents! This will forever change the face of sports, not to mention the dental world.” (California dentist)
“The PPM is the only mouthguard that can help obtain peak performance. The others can actually decrease your performance. Jaw position is paramount to achieving optimum performance.” (Minnesota dentist)
"Without question mouthguards can improve athletic performance, like the MORA (mandibular oral repositioning appliance) made by Dr Richard Kaufman, an orthodontist." (South Carolina dentist)
“Not only can it make athletic performance better, but it offers relief for TMJ symptoms, i.e., headaches, neck tension, etc.” (Texas dentist)

Read more: Many Believe the PPM Can Improve an Athlete’s Performance

sheldon cohen, ddds

how can i receive info on how to produce the ppm mouthguard, techniques, etc, as well as labs that can produce it?
http://gr8grin.net Dan Mannikko

With vast improvments of specialized equipment we can unquestionably improve function /posture/performance. Specialist using outdated concepts/methods would not understand this. You don’t know what you dont know.
http://www.dentalartsllc.com Robert Baysa (Hawaii)

PPM gives results with reference to Neuromuscular positioning prior to lab setup. In contrast, the MORA is a mechanical positioning appliance based on x/y axis when mounted on an articulator. Apples and Oranges. PPM performance is based on breathing capacity and muscle fluidity during athletic activity. ppmmouthguard.com Studies? Look up EBD on Neuromuscular. Google Myotronics. You don’t know what you don’t know… check it out.

Aloha,
http://www.21stCenturyDental.com Kent Smith

Hey, General dentist. Who showed that BreatheRite Strips do nothing? Since you are speaking of proof, I would like to see yours.
Steve

PPM mouth guard designs are exactly the same as a patent protected articulated guard used by the N.E. Patriots, in fact a few PPM dentist are also certified to make the Maher mouth guard, it simplifies the procedure done in about ten minutes and lab costs are %75 less than PPM, although not completly the same, the Mahercor product has MORA results and is linked to concussion prevention. A new 2008 FIFA concussion conference poster presentation confirms its affectiveness leading the military to take action to fit soldiers affordably. Developed by a Tufts head and neck specialist and used for over two decades, a certification DVD is now available, concussion prevention is paramount. Fitting all the kids in your program is only affordable at about $175 per player to the end user, even then parents are skittish. http://www.mahercor.com
Steve

NFL Concussion Expert Recognized at 2008 FIFA Concussion Summit

Patriot’s Dentist offers innovative mouth guard to help prevent concussions.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 11, 2008 — Paula Duffy, National Sports Examiner for Examiner.com and regular contributor to The Huffington Post wrote an article (‘If a Simple Mouth Guard Can Prevent Concussions, Why Isn’t the NFL All Over It?’) that has ignited interest in and directed attention towards ways to reduce or prevent the alarming number of sports-related concussions, especially in the National Football League.

Duffy’s column in the Examiner.com (www.Examiner.com) expressing concern for St. Louis Rams quarterback Trent Green and his return to the field after suffering two concussions in one calendar year, including one at the most severe level identified by medical professionals, elicited an informative phone call from Mahercor Laboratories, LLC. Headed up by the New England Patriot’s team dentist for more than two decades, Dr. Gerald Maher, Mahercor Laboratories (www.mahercorlabs.com) has developed an innovative mouth guard, The Maher Mouth Guard, which aids in the prevention of concussions for all athletes participating in contact sports, from professionals to youth players.

href=”http://www.mahercorlabs.com/” alt=”Link to website”>While a concussion policy in the league has been instituted to prevent players from being forced back onto the field without regard to their health, prevention seems to be the solution in the long run, at least to me
Dr. Maher says that the current NFL-approved helmet chin strap directly contributes to concussions that arise from a blow to the jaw. It compacts the end of the jawbone against the skull and increases the likelihood of the bone striking the temporal lobe of the brain, increasing the symptoms of dizziness, the sensation of seeing stars and headaches commonly known as a “ding.”

The Maher Mouth Guard helps reduce the chances of suffering from a concussion. The implementation of this properly-fitted mouth guard with the prescribed thickness separates the mandible (lower jaw) from the maxilla (upper jaw). This limits the chance of obtaining a concussion via a direct blow to the jaw. This, as well as wearing properly fitted protective head gear and chin straps allows for the utmost protection from dangerous head trauma.

Duffy’s articles in the Examiner.com and Huffington Post center on the questions surrounding the seemingly inexplicable lack of interest by the NFL to study and approve Dr. Maher’s product which is already successfully used by the New England Patriots, numerous high school and college athletic programs, individual NFL players and a number of boxing, hockey and lacrosse professionals.

A seven year old NFL study with data that is even older (1996-2001) cites an incidence of .41 concussions per game every week during the football season. Duffy’s concern is for players not aware of the anecdotal evidence about the Maher Mouth Guard waiting for the league or their union to give the nod to a product for on-field use. Duffy believes solutions such as those offered by Mahercor Laboratories should be immediately evaluated for use by athletes at risk.

Things may in fact be starting to happen. Researchers recently presented statistical evidence (http://www.mahercorlabs.com/studies.htm) of athletes treated for Temporomandibular (jaw) Disorders (TMD) prior to the fitting of the (Maher) orthotic appliance at the largest collection of concussion experts in the world, the 2008 FIFA International Conference on Concussion in Sport in Zurich Switzerland. This may be the forum needed to fully understand the relevance and benefits of these procedures.

“While a concussion policy in the league has been instituted to prevent players from being forced back onto the field without regard to their health, prevention seems to be the solution in the long run, at least to me,” stated Duffy.

Mahercor Laboratories product line includes The Maher Standard Mouth Guard (LEVEL I), an introductory maxillary stabilizing mouth guard designed for someone involved in a sport where mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) from non-direct impacts to the face and jaw are to be expected. The Maher Intact Mouth Guard (LEVEL II) is designed for anyone involved in a sport where mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) from hard impacts to the face and jaws are to be expected. This mouth guard is composed of a multi-layered laminated EVA material to enhance tooth protection and a patent pending posterior occusal rim to improve condyle disk relationship to lessen the potential for concussions. The Maher B-Protect Splint (LEVEL III) is designed to position the condyle-disc assembly into the optimum position to resist concussive forces.

Since its development, no NFL Player wearing any products in The Mahercor Laboratories product line has ever succumbed to a concussion from a blow to the jaw.