OPRO Mouthguards will be supplying the Standard Life GB men and women’s senior and under-20 teams with its products this year.
In 2007 OPRO was awarded the Queen’s Award for Innovation in recognition of the company’s groundbreaking work in improving sports players’ oral protection.
For the GB teams, OPRO will be custom making individual mouthguards for all players.
Standard Life GB men’s player Drew Sullivan starting wearing a mouthguard during games after getting elbowed in the face in a club match.
“I was reaching for the ball and someone turned and caught my mouth,” Sullivan says.
“The impact made my tooth wobbly for a day or so and I thought I’d better start wearing a gumshield before it got knocked out.”
Sullivan and his teammates will all be issued with impression kits to get their dental impressions for the custom-made guards, ready for the action and intensity they face later this summer.
James Tombs, head of commercial and business operations for British Basketball, says: “We noticed the propensity for athletes wearing mouthguards during the 2011 EuroBasket competitions for both men and women.
“More and more of our own players have opted to wear them, so it seemed a logical step to partner with a reputable company that could provide a real service to our elite athletes.
“We are delighted to be working with OPRO and look forward to trouble free dentistry for our players.”
OPRO sales director Richard Evans adds: “OPRO are delighted to enter into this agreement with British Basketball.
“We have been supplying mouthguards to international athletes from the world of rugby, hockey and boxing for many years and I am not surprised that GB Basketball players have identified the benefits of wearing a mouthguard while playing and training.
“The use of mouthguards is becoming evermore popular in many sports.
“The fact that the OPRO custom fit mouthguard fits so securely ensures that performance is not hindered in any way while offering athletes the best possible protection.”
