Dental injuries are the most common type of orofacial injury sustained during participation in sports , according to the National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety. An athlete is 60 times more likely to endure damage to the teeth when not wearing a mouthguard. The stock mouthguard, which can be purchased at sports stores without an individual fitting, provides only a low level of protection, if any. Patients don't seem to be as concerned as they should be about the possible link between periodontal disease and strokes, heart disease, diabetes and low birthweight babies. Three out of four dentists plan to educate patients on possible links between this disease and other medical ailments.
Specialists are more likely to use practice management services than general dentists.