Between April 1st and July 1st, Neighborhood Smiles of Belleville will be scheduling appointments for $10.00 custom-fit mouth guards for youth athletes, including the Belleville High School football team. Appointment includes oral exam and impressions, and must be scheduled before July 1st.

In recognition of April as National Youth Sports Safety Month, Neighborhood Smiles of Belleville is reaching out to the community’s local sports teams, in hopes of safety education and injury prevention. The $10.00 fee covers the cost of materials; all time is being donated by the office team. Custom guards will be distributed to the athletes at the equipment handout in early August. Dr. Ryan Yakowicz will also be speaking to the Belleville High School football team about preventing concussions at their Code of Conduct meeting.

Neighborhood Smiles wants parents of teen athletes in the Belleville School District to know that, according to the American Dental Association, over 2 million teeth are knocked out each year due to sports-related injuries. While stock mouth guards offer a certain level of oral protection, they cannot adjust to fit each athlete, and do little to protect against facial injuries and concussions. A custom-fit mouth guard provides the best fit, comfort level, and protection against traumatic injury.

Dr. Ryan Yakowicz was hit in the mouth with a baseball bat when he was young, knocking out his three front teeth, and when there was a dentist that could fix them, he “knew then that dentistry was going to be [his] career choice.” The team at Neighborhood Smiles of Belleville is focused on giving back to the community. They participate in a variety of charitable events, raising awareness for cancer research, prevention of addiction, and other health related issues. Services include general, cosmetic, and family dentistry.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Ryan Yakowicz at Neighborhood Smiles Belleville at (608) 291-4988.