Outreach

More than a mouthguard

Jimmy Nguyen, DS1, and a classmate take an alginate impression on a boxer

"For a boxer, a mouthguard should be as important as gloves”

Downtown Boxing Gym (DBG) has a far-reaching impact on young people in Detroit. An impact that keeps young boxers safe, not just from their opponent’s gloves, but from the streets.

The gym was founded in 2007 by Khali Sweeney who envisioned a program that would provide youth with resources to become positive and productive members of society; resources he and his friends did not have growing up. Through boxing, DBG prioritizes academics, providing tutoring, mentorship and even intervention. Boxers hit the books before they hit the bags.

Since the program began, 100% of student participants have graduated high school and 98% of the program’s kids have gone on to college.

For the past eight years, Detroit Mercy Dental has partnered with DBG to ensure athletes are provided with a proper mouthguard. Student, resident, faculty and staff volunteers have come to look forward to this annual event.

In a sport such as boxing, the potential for a mouth injury is obvious. Mouthguards have been shown to reduce the risk of sport-related dental injuries to hard tissue and there is evidence they may reduce injury to soft tissue as well.

“For a boxer, a mouthguard should be as important as gloves,” said Christina Van Dam, D.D.S. ‘11, director of Advanced Education of General Dentistry. “According to the American Dental Association, approximately 20 to 25 million youth participate in competitive sports and it is estimated that about 36% of unintentional injuries are sports related. Of those injuries, upwards of 20% are maxillofacial injuries.”

The partnership flows two ways.

Residents and students learn firsthand the importance of protecting athletes’ oral cavities by setting up an on-site clinic where they provide screenings, oral health instruction, referrals and, of course, mouthguards— including instructions on how to wear, clean and store the appliance.

In addition to being provided with a proper fitting at delivery, the partnership exposes athletes to careers in oral health care. As they watch volunteers at work, the young boxers ask questions about their education and experience, forming important and influential relationships that may one day lead them to pursue dentistry.

DBG has exploded across Detroit. Youth come from 30 different zip codes and 57 schools across the city and nearby suburbs. More than 150 athletes between the ages of eight and 18 participate and each one relies on their equipment. Whether it’s shoes, boxing gloves or a mouthguard, all are needed to perform properly and safely.

INTERSTED IN MENTORING A STUDENT?

We match students with alumni mentors to provide guidance, knowledge and resources to students as they prepare for their professional careers. To become a mentor, please visit dental.udmercy.edu/alumni