The best known way to prevent a sports concussion is by using a Maher Mouth Guard. Sean M. Hanson, DMD is the only dentist in the state of Oregon to be certified for Maher Mouth Guards.  Since the invention of these devices, no NFL football player has suffered a concussion while playing football and wearing a Maher Mouth Guard.

 

What Is A Concussion?
Mild concussions may go unnoticed by coaches and teammates - even by the athletes themselves. A concussion is traumatic injury to the brain. It can cause immediate impairment of functions including vision, thought, consciousness and balance, and even more serious permanent damage such as memory loss and depression.

For every concussion you get, you are FOUR TIMES more susceptible to get another!

 

Causes of a Concussion

Impact to the Jaw: If there is not adequate cushioning of the jawbones, they can be pushed into the base of the skull and even the brain cavity. This dangerous blow can disrupt brain function and activity causing a concussion as well as other skull damage.

Forceful Blow to the Head: A concussion can take place when suffering a forceful blow to the head. When this happens, the head accelerates rapidly and is then suddenly stopped. Although head movement has halted, the brain, which is floating in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), is shaken and hits the interior skull wall.

Shaking: When the skull is moved vigorously or shaken side to side, the head moves rapidly and the brain, floating in CSF collides repeatedly into the skull walls. This constant repetitive motion can cause serious disorientation and brain injury.

 

Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion
Symptoms reported by concussion sufferers include:


  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Migraine headaches
  • Vision problems
  • Lack of balance or dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Light and sound sensitivity
  • Sluggishness
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Memory problems
  • Sleep pattern changes

 

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, more than 2 million people will suffer a concussion this year. Many occur on athletic playing fields. It's important to know a concussion is a brain injury. These injuries lead to an estimated 80,000 cases of long-term disability each year and claim nearly 50,000 lives.
  • Concussions are known to be cumulative. That is, for every concussion you get, you are FOUR TIMES more susceptible to get another!
  • Also, repeated concussions can lead to long-term memory loss, psychiatric disorders, and other neurological problems.
  • If you have had a number of concussions, your physician likely will advise you to avoid the activities that may put you at risk for future head injuries and to discontinue contact sports. Professional boxers and football players are particularly prone to the effects of cumulative concussions.
Long term effects:
·  Persistent low grade headache
·  Lightheadedness
·  Poor attention and concentration
·  Memory dysfunction
·  Excessive sleepiness or easy fatigue
·  Irritability (low frustration tolerance)
·  Intolerance to bright light (difficulty focusing vision)
·  Intolerance to loud noise, ringing in the ears
·  Anxiety and depression

No athlete should return to play while still demonstrating any signs or symptoms of concussion at rest or with exertion (i.e., exercising).


Glass Jaw What Is Glass Jaw?
Displacement of the articular disc, commonly referred to as Internal Derangement (or Glass Jaw), is a disorder characterized by an abnormal relationship between the articular disc, mandibular condyle, and articular eminence, which act together as a "shock absorber." The disc is most often displaced anteriorly or anteromedially, but medial, lateral and even posterior displacements have also been reported.

 

Because the only physiologic movement permitted between the condyle and the disc is rotation and translation, any sliding or twisting movement between the disc and condyle is abnormal. In the basic workings of the jaw, the condyle, or the topmost point of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), is in charge of jaw function. For a jaw to open, the condyle first rotates and then translates with the disc down the slope of the articular eminence.

In order for disc displacement to occur, there must be elongation of the disc attachments and deformation or thinning of the posterior border of the disc that allows the disc to slide (anteriorly or anteromedially) on the condyle. Internal Derangement occurs when the condyle and the disc are not aligned.

Jaw How Internal Derangement Can Cause A Concussion
When the condyle is not lined up with the disc, it cannot do its job as a shock absorber protecting the base of your skull and the brain. Instead, the temporal bone rests directly on the base of the skull housing the temporal lobe of the brain. In the event of a strong hit to the jaw or chin, the mandible (or jaw) literally "slams" into the temporal bone (or skull). This can result in serious head trauma, potentially causing a concussion and/or other neurological damage. If you would like to learn more about concussions, please go to our concussions page.

Causes - Internal Derangement can be caused by a variety of factors, from car accidents to sports injuries. However, the most prominent cause is usually psychosocial. Whenever there is an upsurge of stress in the body, an increase of poor jaw habits can occur including: clenching, grinding and excessive gum chewing. These habits can cause the muscles to tire and become overused which leads to spasms and derangements.

Symptoms - Symptoms can vary, but the main characteristics include clicking or locking of the jaw. Internal derangement occurs in more than 25% of the entire population and in 65% of the adult population


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