THE AHAS MOUTHGUARD: IT?S NOT JUST A PIECE OF PLASTIC!
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 24 Jan 2018
A couple of the many traits of a champion are focus and attention to details.
Three divisions and longest reigning Filipino boxing world champion, Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes (40-1-4, 22KO) of Murcia, Negros Occidental certainly exhibits these.
When Nietes arrived in Los Angeles to intensely prepare for his IBF Flyweight title defense against Juan Carlos Reveco (39-3-0, 19KO) of Argentina, the first order of his training regimen was to visit our dental offices so we can custom design, fabricate and fit him a new mouthguard. That is focus and attention to details!
Not too many of our Filipino boxers do that. In fact, some call us on the last minute and request a new mouthguard as if we simply pull them out of a drawer. That tells us, their level of understanding of the true value of a proper mouthguard. And, some even tell us to come to their training site to take the impressions for the mouthguard! They don?t want to bother travel the few short miles from LA to our office site at West San Fernando Valley.
Without exception, Nietes was different from of all the others- from world champions to the newbies we had at our offices. From the very start, he understands the importance of our product as he has been using them for many years. And, more importantly, he is respectful of our skills, thus he uses our mouthguards all the time.
Together with his trainers, the Villamor brothers, Edito and Edmund, Nietes came to our offices courtesy of his ?friendly Uber driver?, Jhay Otamias of Torrance, California. With that, we were able to take impressions that allowed us to initiate the design and fabrication of his mouthguard.
True to what many has consistently said about Nietes, the Filipino world champion is humble to the core! When we asked him how he likes to see his new mouthguard, he simply replied - ?Yung simple lang. Sana isang kulay na purple and my nickname in front?. (A simple one-color mouthguard with my nickname written at the front) We could have easily designed a fancy multicolored mouthguard for him with all the bells and whistles, but that is not the preference of the champion.
Like all of the mouthguards we design and fabricate, the new Nietes mouthguard follows all the parameters of what a mouthguard should be - from the use of the proper materials to its design and fit. It conforms to all the specifications and recommendations suggested by Academy for Sports Dentistry and the American Dental Association. It has specific thickness and reinforcements in areas where forces of impact are most expected. The correct peripheral extensions and occlusions make it comfortable to wear and the fit is immaculate. It will never come out in the heat of combat. Of course, in this particular case, it also has the requested purple color.
In short, it?s just not a piece of plastic that is placed in the mouth with the hope that it will protect the teeth and surrounding oral structures of the athlete.
It is an art in its true sense and an awesome protective device.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
The Second Rise of Jesse Espinas
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 04 Jul 2025Boxing Golden Age Comparison - Philippines and Japan
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 04 Jul 2025Kittipong, Magdalena, Kim, Kritiphak Claim Wins in Brico Santig's Show in Bangkok
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 04 Jul 2025Kremlev, Crawford, Fury Launch IBA's Golden Era of International Boxing
Fri, 04 Jul 2025International Master Angelo Young stays on course for GM norm
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 04 Jul 2025Robby Gonzales and Yoseline Perez Progress to Semifinals at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
Fri, 04 Jul 2025Fireworks Ahead: Magsayo vs Mata in Prelims of Pacquiao vs Barrios
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 03 Jul 2025Japan's Boxing Golden Age Remains Limited to the Lower Weights
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 03 Jul 2025No issues with fight ref
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 03 Jul 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Grand Muay Thai event in Verona
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Thu, 03 Jul 2025Morelle McCane and Rene Camacho Advance to Quarterfinals of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
Thu, 03 Jul 20253 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
Thu, 03 Jul 2025ESPN Original Series The Fight Life Returns for Season Two on July 7
Wed, 02 Jul 2025TOP-RATED LIGHTWEIGHT KO ARTIST ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI RETURNS
Wed, 02 Jul 2025Amazing Muay Thai WBC Festival 2025
Wed, 02 Jul 2025