Lance Kearse and fellow teammates receive custom fittings from VCU School of Dentistry.
The VCU men’s basketball team recently took a group trip to the dentist with a simple goal in mind — the Rams want to avoid any unnecessary trips to the dentist during the season.
VCU’s School of Dentistry fitted the Rams for customized mouth guards. A group of dental students from the Class of 2010 spent time making molds that will be used to make sure the guards fit just right.
“Making the mouth guards for the Rams basketball team is a unique way for the school to promote excellent oral health for athletes in all contact sports,” said Dr. Ron Hunt, dean of the School of Dentistry.
“A partnership like this can raise awareness of how mouth guards can prevent injuries to teeth and gums,” he added.
Rams players went to the chairs in shifts, sitting still while the dental students did their work. The process isn’t lengthy, said Erick Jansson, a Class of 2010 student who will take the molds his classmates prepared and finish the actual mouth guards. Making the mold takes from 5 to 15 minutes, making the guard takes another hour.
“The mouth guards that are manufactured here at the dental school have a superb fit compared to something you can buy over the counter,” Jansson said. “As a result, they’ll last a lot longer and they’ll provide less irritation to the player. It allows them to be protected and take care of their teeth and be comfortable doing so.
“Mouth guards that don’t fit as well have a tendency to fracture over time and to fracture under stress, which is when you want them to not fracture,” he added.
Sophomore guard Brandon Rozzell has suffered a dental injury while playing, so he knows better than most how much a mouth guard can help. Players were offered a choice of a clear guard or one with color. Rozzell said he wanted a black and gold mouth guard.
“It benefits you with security,” Rozzell said. “You’re not as nervous about getting hit in the mouth because you have protection. I’m glad we’re doing it.”
So is Todd Craft, the athletic trainer who works with the men’s basketball team. Craft was on hand to help shepherd the players from the Monroe Park Campus to the School of Dentistry. He knows through his experience as an athletic trainer that mouth guards aren’t just a football thing.
“The generosity of the School of Dentistry is tremendous and helpful,” Craft said. “Mouth guards are very important at helping to prevent a number of potential dental injuries. The great thing about custom fit guards is they are far more comfortable to wear than over the counter guards, which means you are more likely to wear them. We’re very happy the School of Dentistry wants to help us out.”
The School of Dentistry’s customized mouth guard service is available to any area team at a reasonable price. Teams interested in the service should contact Rebecca Pousson, the assistant dean of staff and patient services, at (804) 628-8261.
