The Academy for Sports Dentistry was founded in 1982 in San Antonio, Texas. One of the futuristic founding members was Dr. William Heinz, who trained me as a dental student at The Ohio State University. It is an honor and privilege to serve in this prestigious organization, and to follow in his footsteps. 

 
I began my professional career in private general practice in Wilmington, Ohio; and for 15 years worked with local high schools and occasionally with the Cincinnati Bengals, whose training camp was in Wilmington. At that time there was no central source for sports dentistry information, but the academy has changed that. In 1983 I received training in Periodontics at the University of Kentucky, and have been full time faculty at the Louisville Dental School since 1985. We have made slow progress in the academic setting to implement more sports dentistry clock hours. It is apparent that most dental schools already have an overloaded curriculum. The good news is that nearly a dozen schools now have organized self-directed student groups. With the help of dedicated faculty, they collaborate with local sports dentists and serve local teams in their communities. Special Olympics represents an example of events in which they contribute. More than ever, practicing dentists are seeking additional training and information. There has also been a surge in interest from the public sector; this includes organizations of certified athletic trainers, parent athletic boosters and people involved in sports medicine. Many of these groups are looking to us for help in sorting out conflicting information. The ASD is attempting to increase the availability of state certified continuing education courses, both during and after graduation from dental school. 

 
Our legacy for the future depends on balancing three critical components. First is “service and delivery of a consistent health message”. While many of our ASD members work with elite athletes, our organization remains a grass-roots organization. Reports of oro-facial injuries in youth suggests that about one fifth of the trauma is sports related, and is therefore preventable. The second component is “training of the next generation of practitioners”. Presently, most dental schools do not provide sufficient training in state-of-the-art treatment or in injury prevention. Graduates have minimal knowledge, skill and experience for managing sports related trauma. But publications and continuing education courses are on the rise. The third legacy building component is the promotion of “intellectual discovery”. This is often interpreted to mean scientific research, but in the tradition of Pierre Fauchard, the father of modern dentistry, it also means fostering curiosity, seeking truth and willingness to share knowledge with colleagues. The ASD is dedicated to building professional credibility by asking the pertinent questions, scrutinizing the scientific information and reporting it without bias or egoism. 

 
In summary, in my 40 years as a dental professional I have witnessed many advances. Dental materials science, such as the use of enamel bonding techniques, new root canal obturation techniques, and the use of growth factors in bone regenerating surgical techniques, all make for more satisfying treatment outcomes. However, prevention of injury is still the most important goal. My personal research interests have encompassed three main questions. First, “what is the role of the custom mouth guard in prevention or rehabilitation of sports-related brain injury?” The second is “can a mouth guard-type appliance, designed to produce orthopedic skeletal balancing, enhance athletic performance?” Examples would be weight lifting or indurance. The third question is “what is the optimum mouth guard, and how can it be made available to all athletes in an economical way?” I believe the Academy is dedicated to answering these critical questions.

 
Join us in our goal to gather and provide the latest information and activities to help all of today’s athletes. All of our members look forward to sharing our Academy with you. 

Benefits of membership in the ASD include access to information and training in sports dentistry. The annual meeting provides opportunities to interact with global experts in both treatment and prevention. The journal of Dental Traumatology provides the latest in treatment and prevention. The ASD web-site enables sports dentists, associate professionals, and lay public to have access to current and empowering information. In addition to an English version, the trauma respond cards are now available in Portuguese, Spanish and French; versions in Japanese, Russian, German, Dutch and Italian will soon be available.

The June 2008 meeting is being planned for St. Louis, Missouri, and will be held in conjunction with the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA). This meeting promises to be a landmark event, and a superb opportunity to gather with colleagues interested in the health and well-being of athletes. It will be a great opportunity for new and old members to participate. I expect that in the near future there will be an increasing demand for many more dentists who are well informed and well trained in sports dentistry. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as the president of the Academy for Sports Dentistry.

 
Regan L. Moore, D.D.S., M.S.D., F.A.C.D. 

 
2007-2008 President, Academy for Sports Dentistry