ASDOH launches “Oral Health for Athletes”
Posted: May 20, 2010
In a unique collaboration, A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health and major league baseball’s Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels are launching the Oral Health for Athletes program, which will provide oral health screenings to spring training athletes.
The first screenings were held for the Mariners on Feb. 17 at the Peoria Sports Complex, their home for spring training. The teams are the first to participate in a program that hopes to grow the service to all spring training teams.
“Often the oral health of athletes may not be a priority or may be neglected,” said Robert Levine, D.D.S., assistant professor, ASDOH. “ASDOH is glad to provide oral healthcare services and education critically important to the overall health of players.”
The Oral Health for Athletes program includes oral cancer screenings, oral hygiene education, spit tobacco use prevention, and oral HPV education; assessment of acute dental problems that can be treated immediately at the ASDOH dental clinics; and recommendations for mouth protection.
The ASDOH mobile dental clinic will be onsite at spring training facilities and will use state-of-the-art tissue screening devices, including mini-lasers. Exams and education will be provided by ASDOH faculty and residents in dentistry.
“If anything suspicious is found on the oral exam, we can even provide a biopsy on-site if needed,” Dr. Levine said.
For Brian Banks, a third year dental student, this opportunity for outreach to athletes finds him on the ASDOH launches “Oral Health for Athletes” other side of the player’s bench. Banks is a former major league baseball player with the Milwaukee Brewers and World Series winner with the Florida Marlins, who traded in his bat for a career in dentistry.
“As both a former major league player and dental student, I know the importance of oral healthcare,” Banks said. “Several of my fellow players had either oral cancers detected early or had suspicious lesions found during similar screening programs.” General managers, coaches, and other staff also will receive screenings.
“Because of the university’s outreach, our athletes and staff are receiving the best education about the dangers of tobacco use and getting top-notch oral exams,” said Mariners head athletic trainer Rick Griffin.
“We are honored to be part of the Oral Health for Athletes program and grateful ATSU is taking the time and effort to extend this program to us.”