ORAL HEALTH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE PROGRAM
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Title No Strong Evidence Exists For The Use Of Mouth Guards To Prevent Concussions
Clinical Question In persons playing sports, does mouth guard use help prevent concussions compared to no mouth guard use?
Clinical Bottom Line No strong evidence exists for the use of mouth guards to prevent concussions. This is based on a systematic review of the literature concerning 51 studies.
Best Evidence (you may view more info by clicking on the PubMed ID link)
PubMed ID Author / Year Patient Group Study type
(level of evidence)
#1) 19433427Benson/2009Various athletes in different sports in 51 studiesSystematic review of the literature
Key resultsNo strong evidence exists for the use of mouth guards or face shields to reduce concussion risk.
#2) 16162986 Barbic/2005College athletes in football and rugbyRandomized Controlled Trial
Key resultsConcussions were not significantly decreased by use of the WIPSS Brain-Pad mouth guard as compared to other types of mouth guards.
Evidence Search ("Mouth Protectors"[Mesh]) AND "Brain Concussion"[Mesh]
Comments on
The Evidence
The Benson paper is not a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. There was a detailed search for relevant trials, and the individual studies were assessed for validity. 51 trials were reviewed. No meta-analysis was done. A multi-center, cluster-randomized, controlled trial compared the WIPPS Brain-Pad mouth guard against the mouthguard of choice was reported by Barbic.
Applicability It cannot be determined if the patient would see reduce concussion risk from a mouth guard.
Specialty/Discipline (General Dentistry) (Dental Hygiene)
Keywords mouthguard, concussions
ID# 2256
Date of submission: 04/25/2012spacer
E-mail reaganj@livemail.uthscsa.edu
Author J.C. Reagan
Co-author(s)
Co-author(s) e-mail
Faculty mentor/Co-author Edward F. Wright, DDS, MS
Faculty mentor/Co-author e-mail WrightE2@uthscsa.edu
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?)
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None available
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Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs)
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