What Are Athletic Mouth Guards?
Many of our patients at Made Ya Smile Dental lead active lifestyles and play a variety of sports. To help protect the smiles of our patients and provide comprehensive care, we are proud to offer custom-made mouth guards for sports. Children, teens, and adults can all benefit from wearing an athletic mouth guard when engaging in both contact and non-contact sporting activities. Certain sports, like baseball, hockey, lacrosse, boxing, and football, carry a higher risk of oral injury but even weight-lifting and yoga may place additional strain on the teeth and jaw. If you or your family members love to play sports, our dentists recommend that you wear a custom-fit athletic mouth guard to protect your smile. These appliances are made specifically for each patient for a comfortable fit and can reduce the risk of damaging your teeth, soft tissues, and jaw if you happen to make contact or be injured while engaging in physical activity. To learn more about custom mouth guards for your family, contact our family practice in Sugar Land, TX for a consultation.
What Are the Benefits of Mouth Guards?
Mouth guards play an essential part in caring for a person's dental health during high-intensity sports. Mouth guards offer several advantages, including:
- Protecting your smile from possible harm
- Helping to prevent oral soft tissue damage
- Reducing the chance of jaw damage
- Diminishing the odds of a concussion
- May help athletic skills by enabling easier breathing and speaking
- Designed to provide a proper fit
Who Is a Candidate for Athletic Mouth Guards?
Wearing a custom-fit mouth guard when playing sports helps protect your teeth, gums, and jaw and greatly minimizes the risk of damage to your smile. While you may be tempted to try boil-and-bite guards found at sporting goods stores, professionally made mouth guards are crafted of higher quality materials and customized to fit your mouth, and often fit more comfortably. Our dentists design custom mouth guards to effectively cover the gum tissues and teeth by sitting comfortably between the upper and lower arches. We personalize these appliances to meet your unique needs and recommend them for anyone who participates in active or passive sporting activities where injury to the mouth could result. This may include sports, like wrestling, martial arts, boxing, baseball, football, soccer, lacrosse, hockey, weight lifting, yoga, and track and field.
Custom mouth guards are also recommended for patients who have veneers, crowns, or other restorations on the teeth and for those who wear metal braces. Injury to the mouth from sports in such cases can damage the restorations, teeth, gums, lips, cheeks, and the jaw if left unprotected. Any type of contact or blunt-force injury to the face or mouth while engaging in sporting activities can cause significant damage to your smile.
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How Are Sports Mouth Guards Made?
Since athletic mouth guards are custom created for each individual patient, our team will perform an evaluation of your jaw and teeth and talk with you about your sports activity to learn more about your needs. We will use this information to create the type of appliance best suited for you. Impressions of your upper and lower teeth will be taken so that we can make study models of your teeth. Our dentists will then send these models along with specific instructions to our partner lab for your mouth guard fabrication. Mouth guards are made from high-quality, durable acrylic or other material. You also have the option of personalizing your mouth guard in the color of your choice. When your guard is completed and arrives in our office, we will have you return to try it and receive instructions on how to wear and care for it. Our dentists will ensure it fits comfortably and can make any necessary adjustments at that time.
How Can I Care for My Mouth Guard Appliance?
To keep your smile safe from harm when playing sports, it is vital to wear your mouth guard during each activity and as recommended by our dentists at Made Ya Smile Dental. Over the years, we have treated numerous injuries resulting from accidents that occurred during sports when mouth guards were not worn. The best line of defense against oral damage and discomfort is to get into the habit of wearing your athletic mouth guard each time you play. Mouth guards are easy to care for and can last for several years if proper steps are taken. After each use, we recommend that you store your guard in a plastic case and clean it after every use. You can even bring your guard to your biannual cleaning visits so that we can monitor its condition and ensure it still fits well. Children may require new guards as they grow and their jaws develop. When this occurs, a new appliance can be created.
Are Mouth Guards Covered by Insurance?
During your treatment consultation, our dentists will review your options for athletic mouth guard appliances. We will then get in touch with your insurance provider to learn if your specific plan covers any portion of your guard. Made Ya Smile Dental wants you and your family to get the protection needed when playing sports and will work with you to find a solution that meets your budget and treatment needs. We accept several convenient payment methods along with in-office and low-interest financing solutions to cover any out-of-pocket costs.
Mouth Guards FAQ
What kinds of injuries can an athletic mouth guard protect against?
During contact sports, an athletic mouth guard can protect the tongue, teeth, and other areas of the mouth from injury. Mouth guards are frequently used to avoid breaking, chipping, or losing teeth during sports such as football, soccer, or hockey.
How long do athletic mouth guards last?
Mouth guards for adults typically last for several years. However, children will need to replace their athletic mouth guards more often to ensure the best fit. The Made Ya Smile team recommends bringing your mouth guard in to be assessed every six months during regular appointments.
Are custom athletic mouth guards better than store-bought boil and bite guards?
Although boil and bit guards are quick and easy, a custom-made mouth guard is made from higher-quality materials and will fit better than a store-bought guard. Dental professionals often recommend custom athletic mouth guards to ensure the most comfortable protection.
Custom Mouth Guards for Sports
Protect your family's smiles and oral health and enjoy your sporting activities with custom-fit athletic mouth guards from Made Ya Smile Dental. A personalized consultation with one of our dentists can determine the best type of guard for you or your family member, whether you engage in contact or non-contact physical activities. Custom mouth guards cover the teeth and gums to minimize the risk of oral injury during sports. To get started with your appliance, schedule a visit with our family practice in Sugar Land, TX right away.