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LaChapelle · 11-05-2009, 10:51 PM

Cassel’s secret weapon against concussions

TW:http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...y/1552026.html

By PETE GRATHOFF
The Kansas City Star

Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel has taken a beating at times this season, but he remains confident that he has an advantage when it comes to avoiding a concussion.

His mouthguard.

It was developed by Gerald Maher, the team dentist for the New England Patriots. Cassel spent the first four seasons in the NFL with New England before being traded to the Chiefs earlier this year. The Patriots are believed to have had the fewest concussions of any NFL team last season.

“Dr. Maher’s work with the Patriots is pretty well documented,” Cassel said. “The guys in that locker room trust the protection that his mouthguards provide, and once I tried it, I won’t wear anything else. As quarterback, you want a mouthguard that not only gives a high level of protection, but is also comfortable and still allows you to speak audibly. Dr. Maher’s mouthguard gets an ‘A+’ in all of those respects.”

Head trauma among NFL players has been a hot topic of late. Commissioner Roger Goodell was grilled last week by members of Congress, and a number of articles have been written documenting former players who developed dementia.

Maher said there are three main ways to get a concussion: a blow to head, whiplash effect and a blow to the jaw. Often it’s a combination of all three, but Maher’s mouthguard protects against a shot to the jaw.

“It’s not designed for teeth protection. We’re just interested in repositioning the jaw bone,” Maher said in a phone interview, “so that you can put the jaw bone in a better spot to withstand the blow.”

It’s likely that most people have never heard of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), but it is Maher’s area of expertise. Here is a brief description of the TMJ:

At the top end of the jawbone (also known as the mandible) is the condyle. The TMJ is at the end of the condyle which can move within a space of the skull bone called a fossa. Separating these two bones is a pad of cartilage called an articular disc.

When the condyle is not lined up with the articular disc, it cannot do its job as a shock absorber protecting the base of the skull and the brain. Instead, the jawbone is positioned on the base of the skull housing the temporal lobe of the brain. In the event of a strong hit to the jaw or chin, the jawbone slams into the skull.

That hit ultimately affects the temporal lobe and can cause a concussion.

Maher’s device makes sure the condyle is always lined up with the disc, thus removing that particular way of receiving a concussion.

“It’s controversial,” Maher said. “In other words, I can give you 10 articles that say mouthguards do nothing for concussion and 10 articles that say mouthguards radically cut down on concussions.”

Maher’s device is actually fitted after the jaw has been properly aligned. Many other mouthguards are the “boil and bite” plastic pieces. These actually have been known to decrease in thickness thus reducing its effectiveness.

Maher recently co-authored a paper in the journal Dental Traumatology that focused on a three-year study of 28 high school athletes with a history of concussion.

The athletes had 59 combined concussions in the previous two seasons, but with the mouthguard they had a combined three over the next three seasons.

“It’s the first paper that’s been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal that relates concussion to the position of the temporomandibular joint,” Maher said. “Hopefully this paper is going to awaken the dental community so more lives can be saved and more concussions can be prevented.”

Maher said that Cassel and teammate Mike Vrabel, another former Patriot, have been quick to try and help their new teammates when needed.

“One of the players on Kansas City got a concussion and they gave him my phone number and I spoke with him,” said Maher, who declined to name the player citing privacy laws. “I know both Mike and Matt are in my corner. My first association is with the Patriots and not any other NFL team, but I would gladly train doctors from other teams on the science of the jaw position, so they could make it for their players.”

11-05-2009, 10:51 PM
LaChapelle Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	The neglect of the 0-line mystery solved... Cassel’s secret weapon against concussions TW:http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...y/1552026.html By PETE GRATHOFF The Kansas City Star Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel has taken a beating at times this season, but he remains confident that he has an advantage when it comes to avoiding a concussion. His mouthguard. It was developed by Gerald Maher, the team dentist for the New England Patriots. Cassel spent the first four seasons in the NFL with New England before being traded to the Chiefs earlier this year. The Patriots are believed to have had the fewest concussions of any NFL team last season. “Dr. Maher’s work with the Patriots is pretty well documented,” Cassel said. “The guys in that locker room trust the protection that his mouthguards provide, and once I tried it, I won’t wear anything else. As quarterback, you want a mouthguard that not only gives a high level of protection, but is also comfortable and still allows you to speak audibly. Dr. Maher’s mouthguard gets an ‘A+’ in all of those respects.” Head trauma among NFL players has been a hot topic of late. Commissioner Roger Goodell was grilled last week by members of Congress, and a number of articles have been written documenting former players who developed dementia. Maher said there are three main ways to get a concussion: a blow to head, whiplash effect and a blow to the jaw. Often it’s a combination of all three, but Maher’s mouthguard protects against a shot to the jaw. “It’s not designed for teeth protection. We’re just interested in repositioning the jaw bone,” Maher said in a phone interview, “so that you can put the jaw bone in a better spot to withstand the blow.” It’s likely that most people have never heard of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), but it is Maher’s area of expertise. Here is a brief description of the TMJ: At the top end of the jawbone (also known as the mandible) is the condyle. The TMJ is at the end of the condyle which can move within a space of the skull bone called a fossa. Separating these two bones is a pad of cartilage called an articular disc. When the condyle is not lined up with the articular disc, it cannot do its job as a shock absorber protecting the base of the skull and the brain. Instead, the jawbone is positioned on the base of the skull housing the temporal lobe of the brain. In the event of a strong hit to the jaw or chin, the jawbone slams into the skull. That hit ultimately affects the temporal lobe and can cause a concussion. Maher’s device makes sure the condyle is always lined up with the disc, thus removing that particular way of receiving a concussion. “It’s controversial,” Maher said. “In other words, I can give you 10 articles that say mouthguards do nothing for concussion and 10 articles that say mouthguards radically cut down on concussions.” Maher’s device is actually fitted after the jaw has been properly aligned. Many other mouthguards are the “boil and bite” plastic pieces. These actually have been known to decrease in thickness thus reducing its effectiveness. Maher recently co-authored a paper in the journal Dental Traumatology that focused on a three-year study of 28 high school athletes with a history of concussion. The athletes had 59 combined concussions in the previous two seasons, but with the mouthguard they had a combined three over the next three seasons. “It’s the first paper that’s been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal that relates concussion to the position of the temporomandibular joint,” Maher said. “Hopefully this paper is going to awaken the dental community so more lives can be saved and more concussions can be prevented.” Maher said that Cassel and teammate Mike Vrabel, another former Patriot, have been quick to try and help their new teammates when needed. “One of the players on Kansas City got a concussion and they gave him my phone number and I spoke with him,” said Maher, who declined to name the player citing privacy laws. “I know both Mike and Matt are in my corner. My first association is with the Patriots and not any other NFL team, but I would gladly train doctors from other teams on the science of the jaw position, so they could make it for their players.”
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