September is National Childhood Injury Prevention Month!

This month, our staff at Caponera Orthodontics want you to be extra careful with your braces and appliances. After all, September marks the start of fall sports and an increased risk to mouth injuries. September also happens to be National Childhood Injury Prevention Month, and Dr. Rinaldo Caponera thought it’d be a good idea to share a few sobering facts about sports and facial injuries, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists.

Injuries can happen at any age: More than half of the seven million sports and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by youth between ages 5 and 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Collision and contact sports have higher injury rates—baseball, soccer, basketball and football account for about 80% of all sports-related emergency room visits for children between 5 and 14 years of age. Despite the risks, many kids are still not wearing mouth guards and facial protection during games and practices.

Mouth guards are not being used: Sixty-seven percent of parents say their child does not wear a mouth guard, yet, 70% say their biggest fear when their child plays is that they will get hurt. And here’s a chilling stat: One out of every four (27 percent) parents say their child has sustained an injury during an organized sport resulting in a trip to the emergency room, according to the AAO.

Not enough support for mouth guards: Of the parents whose children do not wear a mouth guard, 84 percent say it's because the league or coach does not require it, the AAO says.

Hard hits occur in every sport: The average high school baseball pitcher can throw a fast ball between 75-to-85 miles per hour. This compares to being hit in the mouth by a speeding car! Cheerleading is one of the most dangerous sports, accounting for 65% of all injuries in high school girls' athletics, according to MSNBC.com.

We hope this helps you remember to always wear a mouth guard and other forms of protective gear when participating in fall sports! We encourage you to give us a call at 954-376-3845 if you have any questions!

Dr. Caponera, helping you save face this summer

With summer here, Dr. Caponera and our team know this is a time when most people - especially athletes - damage their teeth. If you'll be playing sports this summer, it's important that you consult Dr. Caponera for special precautions, such as wearing a mouth guard. Mouth guards, Dr. Caponera & staff will tell you, are advised for playing summer sports such as baseball, soccer, lacrosse and many more.

In case of any accident involving the face, we want you to check your mouth and appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances are damaged, please schedule an appointment with us immediately. And don’t forget to ask us—Dr. Caponera will be more than happy to provide a mouth guard for any patient in treatment!

Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Please give us a call at 954-791-6510 if you have any questions about mouth guards or your orthodontic treatment.

Play it safe this spring, from Caponera Orthodontics

April - which is National Facial Protection Month - is almost gone, but not before we remind all our young athletes in treatment to play it safe when out on the field. After all, nearly 60,000 people injure their faces annually while participating in sports activities, and teenagers account for 80 percent of all sports-related trips to the emergency room.

Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this spring, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

We hope these tips help. Dr. Caponera will tell you protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Caponera Orthodontics. Stay safe and have fun!