Sports Dentistry is an essential field in contemporary dentistry, supporting both amateur and elite athletes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral issues and injuries. By strengthening the crucial balance between mouth and body, Sports Dentistry simultaneously improves sports performance.
The power of Sports Dentistry
Whatever the sport, this specific field of dentistry assesses an athlete’s body starting with the mouth. Why? Because the mouth is the pathway to rectifying the neurological connections that are wired to body behaviour, function, performance and control. For over two decades now, our expert medical team has been working alongside some of the world’s leading athletes – you’ll find Cristiano Ronaldo’s dentist here – helping them achieve peak performance, alongside great, healthy smiles. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Miguel Stanley has been successfully treating elite athletes and working closely with premium sports clubs even before Sports Dentistry became Sports Dentistry. He has even lectured at FIFA – Fédération Internationale de Football Association.
Our game changing protocol
At our dental clinic in Lisbon, we’ve treated some of the greatest athletes of our time, and our Sports Dentistry protocol studies the link between the stomatognathic system and sports practice. Composed of teeth, jaw, facial muscles, soft tissues and the temporomandibular joint, we analyse the functional components of this system, while also considering the evaluation of Postural Deficiency Syndrome (PDS).
As the system that supports the body’s stability, shape and movement, if there is a postural imbalance, a number of recurring pathologies can arise. In athletes, these can include a variety of issues:
- Lumbar pain
- Sciatica
- Herniated disc
- Neck pain
- Sprains
- Joint pain
- Headaches
- Scoliosis
- Compromised sports performance
Our protocol assesses and treats this postural imbalance through the mouth, using a high-tech, customised oral appliance that reconnects, repairs and rebalances the neurological pathways between the mandibular system and the central nervous system.
The occlusion-balance connection
In Sports Dentistry, occlusion (the alignment and contact between teeth) and balance (the overall harmony and function between mouth and body) are critical factors that affect sports performance, injury prevention, and even psychological and functional confidence. A stable bite can influence jaw positioning and neuromuscular control, potentially affecting strength and posture. Some studies suggest that balanced occlusion may improve athletic performance by promoting efficient muscle coordination and reducing strain. Functional balance ensures optimal jaw alignment, minimising stress on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which can reduce headaches, neck pain, or other issues that might affect focus and performance.
How does improving the airway boost performance?
Improving the airway through Sports Dentistry can significantly enhance athletic performance by optimising oxygen flow, supporting respiratory efficiency, and improving overall physical and mental function.
Enhanced oxygen intake improves breathing efficiency. Ensuring a clear and open airway reduces resistance to airflow, allows deeper and more effective breaths, which supports better oxygen delivery to muscles and tissues, enhancing endurance, aerobic capacity, and performance. Maximising oxygen uptake for athletes is crucial because, in addition to contributing to lower fatigue levels, it also improves sleep quality, muscle recovery, mental focus, and overall sports performance.
Sports Dentistry benefits
What happens when you combine gold standard oral health through Sports Dentistry, innovative technology, posture improvement and general wellbeing? You boost overall sports performance and reap a variety of benefits:
- Reduce the risk of injuries
- Shorten recovery time
- Enhance muscle function
- More strength
- Better resistance
- Greater stability
- Stronger body balance
- Improved vision and aim
- Faster, more efficient and precise movements
With 24 years of experience in advanced biological dentistry, White Clinic has been a strong advocate of the undeniable connection between oral health and general health, and we’ve been shifting that paradigm in a variety of fields, including sports.
Sports Dentistry is a game changer: ready to change your game?
