Almost all professional sports use mouthguards of some sort to protect their athlete’s teeth. At least two companies are now offering varieties that are also supposed to actually help determine if the athlete may have a concussion.
Prevent Biometrics say that their mouthguard was developed by top neurosurgeons and engineers at Cleveland Clinic over a period of six years. The mouthguard is supposed to be able to offer “unparalleled comfort, protection and durability” while, at the same time, being able to measure the “force, location and direction” of each head impact.
The mouthguard functions by pairing with a special mobile application. When an impact “exceeds a predetermined threshold,” a light on the monitor turns red. At that point trainers or caregivers are supposed to be alerted so that, if necessary, the athlete can be removed from the game to be assessed for a possible concussion.
Biometrics’ concussion-alerting mouthguard isn’t the first product of its kind. FitGuard by Force Impact Technologies is Bluetooth-compatible and also “aims to solve the problem of athletes returning to play when there is a high probability of a head-injury.”
Worth Further Investigation?
To our knowledge, ImPACT Applications, Inc. are the only FDA-cleared concussion evaluation and management tools to help determine, monitor and treat concussions. We know that ImPACT tests are reliable and are insurance-reimbursable in most instances. But these “smart” mouthguards are interesting and may also help initially alert coaches to the severity of head impacts when an injury isn’t observed and or the athlete is unable or unwilling to be taken off the field. At this point at least, price may be prohibitive until more research is done. The custom-made Prevent mouthguard is sold for $299 with a “boil and bite” version available for $99.
Anybody have any experience with a “smart” mouthguard of some fashion? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us here. And don’t forget – the best way of avoiding concussions is not to get hit or hurt!
