Ann Arbor, MI — May 10, 2011 — Free, customized mouth guards will be made for amateur athletes ages 5 and older during the University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s annual mouth guard clinic on Saturday, June 25.  The clinic takes place from 9:00 a.m. until noon.  Registration begins at 8 o'clock.

Athletes will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.  Children who have been fitted for braces can also participate.  Free parking will be available on the upper level of the Fletcher Street parking structure.

Dental and dental hygiene students will work with faculty to make the custom-fitted mouth guards in one of the School’s clinics at 1011 N. University Avenue.  An appointment is not necessary.  However, only 120 mouth guards will be made.

Amateur athletes under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who will be asked to fill out a brief medical history and consent forms.  Participants will receive a number after checking in and will be seen in the order assigned. 

When the number is called, the student athlete will be greeted by a dental or dental hygiene student and then asked to choose the color of their mouth and if they want to have a strap attached.

The first step in the process, taking a dental impression, will last about 15 or 20 minutes. Fabricating the mouth guard will take about two hours.  During the final step in the process, ensuring a proper fit, the student athlete will be asked to try it on.  If any adjustments are needed, they will be completed at that time.

A mouth guard is a vital piece of equipment for any athlete who plans to participate in including football, ice hockey, soccer, basketball, or lacrosse.  However, the mouth guard is also important for those who plan to participate in other activities including rollerblading, downhill skiing, or bicycling.

According to Dr. Kenneth May, associate professor of dentistry, “The customized mouth guards made by our dental and dental hygiene students are comfortable to wear and, as a result, are more likely to be used.”  That proper fit, he added, helps to blunt the force of impact caused by falls or contact that occurs.  He added that a properly fitting mouth guard saves teeth and helps minimize head and neck injuries, jaw fractures, and concussions.