ASDOH screens MLB players

In a unique collaboration, A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) and major league baseball’s Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels recently launched the Oral Health for Athletes program, which provides oral health screenings to spring training athletes. The first screenings were held for the Mariners and the Angels on Feb. 17 at the Peoria Sports Complex and Tempe Diablo Stadium, their respective homes for spring training. These Cactus League teams are the first to participate in a program that hopes to grow the service to all of the spring training teams.

“Often the oral health of athletes may not be a priority or may be neglected,” said Robert Levine, D.D.S., assistant professor, ASDOH. “ASDOH is glad to provide oral healthcare services and education critically important to the overall health of players.”

The Oral Health for Athletes Program includes oral cancer screenings, oral hygiene education, spit tobacco use prevention, and oral HPV education; assessment of acute dental problems that can be treated immediately at the ASDOH dental clinics; and recommendations for mouth protection.

“Many ball players still use spit tobacco because they believe it enhances their performance,” said Dr. Levine. “An early sign of oral mucosal damage from spit tobacco use is hyperkeratosis. It is important that athletes become aware of damage already present from spit tobacco use as well as their increased risk for oral cancer.”

The ASDOH mobile dental clinic was onsite at the Mariners and Angels spring training facilities, and used state-of-the-art tissue screening devices including mini-lasers. Exams and education were provided to approximately 300 individuals by ASDOH faculty and residents in dentistry.

For Bryan Banks, a third-year dental student, this opportunity for outreach to athletes finds him on the other side of the player’s bench. Banks is a former major league baseball player with the Milwaukee Brewers and World Series winner with the Florida Marlins who traded in his bat for a career in dentistry. “As both a former major league player and dental student, I know the importance of oral healthcare,” said Banks. “Several of my fellow players had either oral cancers detected early or had suspicious lesions found during similar screening programs.”

In addition to the players, general managers, coaches and other staff also had oral screenings. “Because of the University’s outreach, our athletes and staff are receiving the best education about the dangers of tobacco use and getting top-notch oral exams,” said Mariners head athletic trainer, Rick Griffin. “We are honored to be part of the Oral Health for Athletes Program and grateful ATSU is taking the time and effort to extend this program to us.”