14 April 2022

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AAOMS holds facial protection month in April

Katherine E. Pfaff

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The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) has deemed April as National Facial Protection Month in its campaign to call for use of safety equipment in sports. The campaign is a collaborative effort of AAOMS, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), and the Academy for Sports Dentistry (ASD).

The trio of organizations have issued recommendations on safety measures when participating in recreational activities and collision sports. 

Recommendations include: wear mouth guards in contact sports; wear helmets and eyewear; wear helmets when playing baseball, hockey, football, softball, lacrosse, and when biking, skateboarding, riding a scooter or the like; and pay attention when attending a game so as to not be hit by a stray ball. 

Wearing protective gear is intended to protect players from facial and head injuries incurred while playing sports. A decade long study by AAPD found that 32% of injuries to the face for children happened playing sports. 

Head, facial, and orofacial injuries to youth athletes cost about $500 million each year and 20 million days of school missed, according to ASD.

Mouthguards are an effective projector for players’ mouths as statistics point to a significant increase in risk of injury to teeth. Players are about 60 times more likely to damage their teeth than those not playing sports, according to the groups. Despite the risk, a majority of parents noted their children di not wear mouthguards during sports play.

Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-organizations-unite-to-promote-facial-safety-in-april-301515916.html