Dr Evelien van Amerongen from the ISHSKO Centre, Westport urges coaches and parents to comply to the new mouthguards legislation.
GAA players from junior to adults, throughout the country have been warned by the Irish Dental Association to adhere to new mouthguard rule in the GAA. From January 2013 it is compulsory for underage stars to wear mouthguards during football and hurling games and training.
Dr van Amerongen has found the uptake and reinforcement to be slow, and most parents visiting her dental centre were not informed enough about the new rules. She likes to urge referees and coaches to take responsibility for the health of their team and strictly enforce the new rules and impose the ‘no mouthguard – no play’ rule.
Dr van Amerongen worked for the Opro Mouthguard company in the past and has been providing their individually designed mouth guards ever since. The specially designed shape and size of the mouthguard makes them very comfortable to wear, which enhances compliance to wearing it.
Clubs and schools can contact the ISHSKO Centre on 098 26200 to arrange Dr van Amerongen and her team to come to the club and take the necessary impressions to have the mouthguards made. It usually takes seven to nine days for the mouthguards to be fitted. Special club prices are available.
If your child is not offered a club appointment, parents can book an individual session for the mouthguard impressions directly with the ISHSKO Centre.
