Recommendations for the Use of Mouthguards in Contact Sports

There is a high incidence of orofacial injuries in many contact sports. Mouthguards have been shown to reduce the occurrence and severity of these injuries, especially dental injuries. Of the three types of mouthguards available to participants in contact sports (stock, boil and bite, and custom), custom-fitted mouthguards are the most protective and comfortable to wear. There are two types of custom mouthguards: pressure laminated and vacuum formed. Properly fitted pressure-laminated mouthguards have superior qualities in fit and protectiveness over vacuum-formed mouthguards. The literature is divided and inconclusive as to the effectiveness of any type of mouthguard to either prevent or reduce the severity of concussions in contact sports.