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Philippines, 23 Nov 2024 |
Home >> News >> Columns >> Ed de la Vega, DDS |  |
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$25,000 MOUTHGUARDS FOR FLOYD? - A POST SCRIPT PhilBoxing.com Wed, 08 Apr 2015  Yesterday the Internet lit up with the news published in the NY Daily News that a New York dentist made several mouthguards for Floyd Mayweather Jr., some of which had a real $100 bill insert and costs $25,000. In response to the numerous questions that where directed to me owing to the fact that many in the community know that I design and fabricate and fit custom made mouthguards myself for athletes from different sports, I wrote an article for this website to express my opinion on the issue and address the questions directed to me. I specifically mentioned that in my opinion Junior is not going to use the mouthguards with $100 insert and stated some negative impact of inserts. Today another article appeared regarding the issue. It was published in the Philadelphia Daily News and penned by Tom Mahon. And so, more questions were directed to me. I do not wish to ?beat a dead horse? so to speak but sometimes things has to be emphasized to clear issues. Mahon apparently talked to the dentist who made the mouthguards for Junior, some 10 of them. The article by Mahon confirmed what I have stated yesterday wherein I indicated that I have doubts Junior will wear the $100 encrusted mouthguards during the fight. And I was right! The dentist himself stated to Mahon that he made several mouthguards for Junior and is not sure which one he will use, not even the one with $100 insert. ?It will be interesting which one he wears during the fight?, he said. Oh my! What this tells me the mouthguards, particularly the one with the $100 bill insert where made just for show. A typical showboating by Junior! They were never intended for use as a protection for Junior. They were just in my opinion, a ?rub-in-your-face? to other boxers who can?t afford a decent mouthguard. They are a ?look at me I am rich I even have $100 bills in my mouthguards?. Pure flimflam and braggadocio.! But what really amazes me is the fact that with all the mouthguards made, not one was made specifically for the fight. And I ask ? why? I have no doubt that all the 10 or more mouthguards fit. But they are not all the same. For the price, they should fit, albeit differently. But ?fit? does not necessarily mean they are suitable for combat. Why wasn?t one made specifically for the fight with the correct fit, occlusion and thickness in the critical areas to provide maximum protection? Why wasn?t Floyd advised to use one particular mouthguard? Why was the choice left to him? Wasn?t it the duty of the dentist to help him select a particular mouthguard and assure that it satisfies all the parameters of a proper mouthguard? I am asking because when an athlete comes to me for my professional services, I always assure that I guide and advice them regarding what is best for them. I never leave it to the athlete to pick a mouthguard. We do it together to assure that the mouthguard satisfy the parameters of a proper mouthguard. Almost all athletes pick a mouthguard based on ?comfort? and how the mouthguard looks (design and color). They know nothing about minimal thickness in critical areas. They have no clue on how critical is fit and occlusion. And, they don?t have a clue about the negative impact of an improper mouthguard much less the fabrication design to make breathing more allowable. Therefore, it is my responsibility as a professional that they are properly informed and guided in the selection of their mouthguards. Looking at the photos of the Junior?s mouthguards published yesterday, I doubt if all of those are suited for the fight. I hope Floyd picks the correct one because after the fight, I would not like him to have an excuse if Manny Pacquiao hits him squarely in the mouth and do damage to his teeth or worse, break his jaw. I would not like him saying that he had an expensive but a lousy mouthguard, therefore he was injured. In short, no excuses! Click here for a complete listing of columns by this author. Click here for a complete listing of this author's articles from different news sources. |
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