Types of Mouth Guards

You don’t have to be a football player to benefit from wearing a mouth protector. Any adult or child involved in a recreational activity that poses a risk of injury to the mouth can obtain smile protection with this important safety device.

There are basically two types of mouth protectors:

Pre-fabricated: A pre-fabricated mouth guard can be purchased at stores, these mouth guards are often only offered in a general size offerings.

Custom: Mouth guards can also be fabricated by your dentist using an exact model (impression) of your mouth. This type of mouth guard provides superior fit and protection.

Your dentist can create a special mouth protector just for you – one that will provide comfort and proper fit. A custom-made mouth protector is individually designed and constructed in the dental office or according to your dentist’s specifications in a professional dental laboratory.

First, the dentist makes an impression of the patient’s teeth. Using a special material, the dentist constructs the mouth protectors over a model of the teeth.

Although custom-made mouth protectors are somewhat more expensive than stock mouth protectors purchased in stores, their exceptionally good fit, comfort, and overall quality make them worth it. A custom-made mouth protector is easily retained in the mouth and does not interfere with speech or breathing. For these reason, custom-made devices are often preferred by sports enthusiasts and recommended by dentists. So give your smile a sporting chance – ask you dentist about mouth protectors.

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Athletic Requirements

If you have dental appliances such as orthodontic braces or bridgework, you should wear a mouth protector that has been fitted by a dentist.

A mouth protector should be worn at all times during contact sports, in practice as well as during games.
Mishaps on the playing field, the basketball court, and while riding a bicycle or skateboard often involve blows to the head, face, and mouth.

Besides creating a painful emergency, injuries to the mouth can result in chipped or fractured teeth, nerve damage, and tooth loss. Wearing a mouth protector is a simple way to prevent many of these painful and costly injuries.

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Injuries from Non-Use

Recreation experts have long recommended a mouth protector as an important piece of safety equipment. Without one, an athlete on the playing field runs the risk of acquiring a toothless grin! You’ve probably seen mouth protectors used in contact sports, such as hockey, football, and boxing. Coaches and team members know that mouth protectors cushion blows that would otherwise cause broken teeth, injuries to the lips and face, and sometimes even jaw fractures.

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