Local orthodondist donates mouth guards to youth hockey leagues

Thanks to the generosity of a local orthodontist, youth participating in the Town of Huntington’s recreational hockey league at Dix Hills Park will not have to worry about losing teeth due to an errant puck, high stick or hard hit. Dr. Inna Gellerman, owner of Gellerman Orthodontics of Huntington Village, donated more than 100 custom mouth guards to youth participating in the Department of Parks & Recreation’s popular instructional league held throughout the winter at the double ice rink facility in Dix Hills.

According to the National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety, athletes are 60 times more likely to sustain damage to teeth when foregoing the protection of mouth guards. “Safety for our youth is imperative and I sincerely appreciate the generosity of Dr. Gellerman for providing this great service and these vitally important mouth guards,” said Huntington Councilman Mark Cuthbertson (D). “Interest and participation in our youth hockey programs continues to grow and the protection provided by these custom guards is greatly appreciated by our parents.”

Gellerman added,“I’ve seen our share of tragic accidents that could have been easily prevented with the correct protective gear. Custom mouth guards help protect not only the teeth but also prevent against a head injury during contact sports ­— at any age.” She also added, “This is an ongoing program offered by Gellerman Orthodontics to any youth teams or any individual young athlete in the area.”