Sports Mouthguards
We believe strongly in preventing problems BEFORE they occur. We see a lot of preventable injuries to teeth and we see the long-term consequences of these injuries first hand. Nothing is worse than seeing the smile that you’ve worked to maintain over the years broken by a sporting injury. Many young patients end up wearing poorly fitting mouthguards from a chemist or sports store. This is one of the ways that we’re working towards protecting your smile every day of the year, not just at your check-ups.
Importance of mouthguards
Sports mouthguards should be an essential piece of equipment for anyone participating in sports that may involve contact to the mouth. Check out our list of which sports require the use of mouthguards. Mouthguards are about much more than just protecting against chipped teeth. Broken teeth, displaced teeth or lost teeth carry life-long issues with maintenance and cost. There is also evidence to support the use of mouthguards in preventing against bone fractures, lip damage and even concussion. Our dental trauma case studies outline some consequences that can occur as a result of knocks playing sport without a mouthguard.
Types of mouthguards
All mouthguards are certainly not created equal. The protection afforded by a mouthguard is highly related to the precision with with it fits around the teeth which in turn is related to the way it is made. Sports mouthguards can be classified into:
Stock mouthguards - bought over-the-counter and not modified, offering little or no protection.
Boil and bite mouthguards - usually purchased from a chemist, these are heated and molded to the teeth at home.
Custom mouthguards - made by a dentist following an impression/scan of the teeth. Are closely adapted to provide required protection. These have been extensively studied are the only type of mouthguards generally recommended for use.
The Australian Dental Association state that boil-and-bite mouthguards:
…fit poorly, are difficult to wear, thin out dramatically, provide poor protection, are difficult to adapt to the mouth’s anatomy, may be dislodged during use with a consequential risk of airway obstruction and are therefore not recommended.
What is involved in making a custom mouthguard?
A custom mouthguard involves taking an impression or scan of the teeth at the dentist. The patient experience when taking an impression is usually quite easy and only takes a few minutes. A mouthguard typically takes approximately a week to fabricate and provide back to a patient but can be completed more quickly in some circumstances.
For any questions about our mouthguards or other treatments, feel free to Contact Us or to Make A Booking Online.