Dr. Greg Scheier & Dr. Alex Anastasiou, of Associates in Family & Pediatric Dentistry in Millburn, are offering custom mouth guards in an effort to help protect the local community from oral-facial injuries due to sports.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), and the Academy for Sports Dentistry (ASD) all urge student athletes to wear mouth guards, yet only 33% currently do so.  According to these organizations,  athletes who do not wear mouth gaurds are 60 times more likely to sustain damage to teeth.

The best option for protection by far are custom mouth guards, which are only available through your dentist.  Store bought mouth guards offer far inferior protection, are often uncomfortable, and make breathing and talking difficult.

Armed with this information, Dr. Scheier & Dr. Anastasiou decided to make it his mission to inform the local community and offer a solution to this growing issue.  States Dr. Scheier, “I was extrememly bothered by the fact that few of my children’s teammates were wearing mouth guards during soccer games and other contact sports.    I knew the risk they were putting themselves in and decided to develop this program to educate and protect them.”

Through community outreach, Dr. Scheier & Dr. Anastasiou is offering customized mouth guards in school colors.   Custom mouth guards are being offered at cost $99 or free for new patients throughout the 2012-2013 school year..

For more information or to make an appointment to get your customized mouth guard please call Associates in Family & Pediatric Dentistry at 973-762-1110.