ANN ARBOR—It’s one of the most important, yet probably one of the most overlooked or neglected pieces of sports equipment—a mouth guard. Mouth guards are vital not just for athletes playing football or ice hockey, but also for individuals playing soccer, basketball, gymnastics, skateboarding, rollerblading, and downhill skiing.

On July 28, from 9 a.m. until noon, dental and dental hygiene students from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry will make free, customized mouth guards for athletes of all ages. Elementary, middle school, high school, and college age students are invited as are non-student athletes.

No appointment is necessary. The program will be held on the third floor at the School of Dentistry, 1011 N. University Ave. The School of Dentistry is on the Central Campus, directly across the street from the Michigan League.

The mouth guards will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. However, because of time constraints, only 125 mouth guards will be made. Athletes will be able to choose the color of their mouth guard as well as decide if they want a strap attached.

Athletes who arrive will sign in at a desk on the third floor of the School of Dentistry Building. After they sign in, they will be assigned a number. When their number is called, they will spend about 20 minutes in a dental chair as student dentists and hygienists, supervised by dental faculty, take an impression.

Because the program is so popular, there could be a wait of 30 or 45 minutes for a chair, depending on the size of the crowd. After the impression has been taken, athletes will be able to pick up their mouth guard about two or three hours later. When the mouth guard is ready, the student will be able to try it on in the presence of a student dentist or dental hygienist who will take the time to make any last-minute adjustments before the student athlete leaves.

“A proper fitting mouth guard acts as a shock absorber, blunting the force of impact caused by falls or contact that occurs in athletic activities,” said Dr. William Godwin, U-M professor emeritus of dentistry and specialist in sports dentistry. “A customized mouth guard, such as the ones made by dental and dental hygiene students at the School of Dentistry, does more than save teeth. It also helps to minimize head and neck injuries, such as concussions and jaw fractures.”

Godwin, who has spoken to local, state, and national groups about the importance of mouth guards, said customized mouth guards fit more comfortably than those sold in stores. “That’s important, because the more comfortable the mouth guard is, the more likely the athlete is to wear it,” he said.

In addition to protecting athletes from possible injury while participating in school-sponsored sports, the American Dental Association suggests mouth guards also be worn for recreational activities, including in-line skating.

The mouth guard clinic has been held every year since 1987. It is funded by a grant from Dr. Samuel D. Harris, a 1924 graduate of the U-M School of Dentistry.

U-M School of Dentistry faculty and students, as well as several local dentists, volunteer their time to make the protective equipment. Schools are invited to send their athletic trainers to receive instruction in the proper use of mouth guards.

The U-M School of Dentistry is one of the nation’s leading dental schools engaged in oral health care education, research, patient care, and community service. General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the School to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan. Classroom and clinic instruction train future dentists, dental specialists, and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia, and public agencies. Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide. More information is available on the Web at http://www.dent.umich.edu.

School of Dentistryacross the street from the Michigan LeagueDr. William GodwinAmerican Dental Associationhttp://www.dent.umich.edu