Mouthguards and the role of sporting team dentists.

With the increased popularity of contact sports and encouragement to participate at an early age, the role of the dental profession in relation to prevention of dental and other orofacial sporting injuries has become more important. Provision of professionally-fitted (custom) mouthguards for persons involved in contact sports, recognition of the 'injury prone dentition', and expertise in immediate management of dental injuries form the basis of sports dentistry. The aim of this review paper is to increase professional awareness and interest. Additionally, it is hoped to stimulate dentists to become involved as sporting club consultants.