Dental Tribune U.S. Edition

Dental Tribune U.S. Edition | April 2012A24 Athletes are always looking for an edge against their competition, especially at the highest professional levels. The men’s and women’s USA Water Polo teams found that competitive edge when they partnered with Keystone Industries and the extensive custom-made Pro-form Mouthguards. Athletes who play the rough and tumble sport of water polo need to have form- fitted mouthguard protection. That’s why this year’s USA Water Polo teams will head to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London armed with maximum mouth protection from Pro-form, which provides the com- petitive edge they need to reach for the gold. During the team’s preparation for Lon- don, the Keystone booth at California Dental Association Presents will feature two silver-medal winners from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. USA Water Polo athletes Brittany Hayes and Rick Merlo will be signing autographs during the event and attesting to the benefits of the Pro-form line. Hayes has a long list of professional achievements, including a second place finish in the 2008 Olympics and first place finishes in the 2007 FINA World Champi- onship and the 2006 Holiday Cup. In the pool, the left-handed attacker is known for her ferocious competiveness, but out of the pool she is known for a beaming smile. Because of Pro-form Mouthguards, she can preserve that perfect smile without sacrificing her aggressive play in the pool. Merlo has a decorated career in water polo as well, including a silver medal fin- ish in the 2008 Olympics alongside top-10 finishes in several international competi- tions. The 6-foot-3-inch tall, 2-meter de- fenseman certainly knows defense, which includes how to protect his mouth by us- ing a Pro-form mouthguard. Pro-form delivers a high level of protec- tion, retention, comfort and fit without hindering speech, breathing and most of all athletic performance. The custom-fit mouthguard goes above and beyond typi- cal boil-and-bite mouthguards because of a double layer of laminated sheet vinyl and a lingual plate imbedded behind the incisors. The mouthguard maintains its form because of the heat and pressure laminating process. The tensile strength is excellent due to the two layers of laminate while the density is maintained during the pressure laminated process for con- trolled, uniformed shape. Overall, the risk of injuries is lessened by about 90 percent when wearing a custom-made mouth- guard. Be sure to check out the competitive edge Pro-form can give your businesses while also meeting world-class water polo athletes at Keystone Industries’ Booth No. 460 during this year’s CDA. (Source: Keystone Industries) Keystone Industries supplies Olympic team Right: USA Water Polo athletes Rick Merlo and Brittany Hayes, silver- medal winners in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, will sign auto- graphs at the Keystone Industries booth (No. 460) in the CDA Presents exhibit hall. Photo/Fred Michmershuizen, Dental Tribune Far right: The U.S. Olympic Water Polo Teams will wear the new Patriot Mouthguards during their quest for gold this summer in London. Photo/Provided by Keystone Industries CDA BOOTH NO. 460 iNdustry NEWs Ad U.S. water polo teams and Pro-form Mouthguards reach for the gold