Mouth guards are an absolute requirement in all high contact sports like hockey, boxing, and football, but many injuries also occur in sports like soccer and basketball, which for some reason are considered "non-contact." Anyone who has watched a minute of these sports can see that physical contact is part of the game. Even if a sport is considered "non-contact," which usually means mouth guards are not required, the use of a mouth guard is a very good idea.
One issue is the protection of the teeth and soft tissues of the face. Mouth guards protect the teeth by the way they cover the teeth, making a catastrophic blow to the teeth less likely. The likelihood that an injury to the mouth causing fractures or knocking teeth out goes down drastically when an athlete wears a mouth guard. Mouth guards also help with soft tissue injuries, which are usually a result of soft tissue getting smashed against the sharp edges of teeth.
More important than the most severe dental injuries, is the issue of prevention of head injuries. Although the idea is currently controversial, previous literature suggested that mouth guards are beneficial in the prevention of concussions. There is argument about this in the sports medicine journals and up to the present, it has not been proven. Most doctors and dentists would tell an athlete that the use of a mouth guard is essential in preventing dental injuries and concussions. But even if the theory has not been proven, the suggestion of a benefit is there and therefore doesn't it make good sense to wear a mouth guard?
Stories have been written about athletes, especially retired NFL players and boxers, whose brains were so severely damaged that they seemed to have Alzheimer's. Blows to the side of the head, chin and lower jaw are especially harmful. It has been suggested by some researchers that the required chin strap of a football helmet positions the lower jaw in such a way that promotes concussion. If there is a possibility of that being true, wouldn't a good mouth guard be key in preventing concussive injuries? A mouth guard dissipates some of the force directed to the lower jaw during these contact sports. Mouth guards can also absorb some of the shock during a hit, before it is transmitted to the head.
The University of Pittsburgh stated that 300,000 sports related concussions occur annually in the US alone. The likelihood that an athlete will suffer a concussion is estimated to be as high as 19% per year of play.
Mouth guards made by a dentist are the best choice. They are made of better materials and the fit is superior to the "boil and bite" options. Better fit generally means better compliance. The "boil and bite" types are best for children whose teeth are transitioning from baby teeth to adult teeth. Once all the adult teeth are in place, the custom made guards are the best in preventing tooth and head injuries. Mouth guards are indicated in any and all sports where physical contact is a possibility.
When a blockage occurs caused by atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries a person may start to experience a variety of symptoms. In most cases the person will experience abdominal pain approximately 15 to 30 minutes after eating and persists for one to three hours, unexplainable weight loss over a short period of time, diarrhea or constipation. More frequently occurring diseases such as gastrointestinal diseases, chronic cholecystitis and pancreatic cancer mimic the same symptoms which leads to late diagnosis or in some cases it is missed completely.
Celiac artery and/or superior mesenteric artery ischemia occur more often in people over the age of 60, in smokers and in those with high cholesterol. Other conditions that may lead to celiac artery and/or superior mesenteric artery ischemia include low blood pressure, congestive heart failure, aortic dissection, occlusion or blockage of the veins in the bowel, coagulation disorders or unusual disorders of the blood vessels such as fibromuscular dysplasia and arteritis.
Doppler testing can be clinically useful as a screening examination to help detect high-grade stenosis of the celiac artery and superior mesenteric artery.
This exam is relativity quick, accurate and non-invasive. For optimal results, patients are asked to fast for at least four hours prior to the Doppler exam as well as take one dose of anti-gas medication one hour before testing.
When superior mesenteric artery or celiac artery stenosis has been diagnosed or suspected by Doppler testing, further testing may be warranted. Testing includes but not limited to angiography, CTA and MRA. Angiography is the test of choice because treatment can be performed during testing which limits the amount of sedation and contrast subjected to the patient.
SMA or Celiac artery stenosis may be treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with or without stenting. Angioplasty is the treatment method of choice due to limited invasiveness and quicker recovery time. In the case of an occluded mesenteric or celiac artery a more invasive surgical approach may be needed with endarteractomy or bypass surgery.
Patients who present with post prandial abdominal pain with acute weight loss and others symptoms described above may be related to mesenteric or celiac artery disease. At the Vascular Lab of West Michigan our register vascular technologists specialize in early detection of these disease processes.