Do you or your child play contact sports like lacrosse, football, basketball, or soccer? If so, then you need a professional sports mouthguard. At Horizon Family Dental Care, we provide custom sports mouthguards in Baltimore, MD, and the surrounding areas.
Mouthguards created by a professional help protect the teeth and soft tissues of the mouth. Athletes need to wear a mouthguard for any sports where there is contact between players. It is also helpful to wear them if you come in contact with a stick or ball. Any blow or hit to the face can result in a severe injury. This can be costly and even result in an emergency situation.
As a general dental treatment, mouthguards prevent future oral health issues from occurring.
What Are The Benefits of Custom Sports Mouthguards?
Compared to store bought mouthguards, custom sports mouthguards conform to the teeth better to protect the smile. Over the counter and “boil and bite” mouthguards can feel bulky in the mouth. These types of mouthguards can also slip and fall out during a game. It can be difficult for patients to communicate effectively when they are wearing a bulky mouthguard. Professionally made sports mouthguards make it easy to speak and drink comfortably. They are made of thick and durable plastic that stays in place for effective protection. We highly recommend a custom sports mouthguard if you have braces or dental restorations. These are very costly dental appliances. If they get damaged in a game, it will take a lot of money and time to repair them. Not to mention, it could be very painful. Just like your natural teeth, it is important to protect your the investments you make in your oral health.
Receiving a Custom Sports Mouthguard
The process to have mouthguard made is very simple. We will take dental impressions for a mouthguard that provides a custom fit. We will send these impressions to a lab where they will use them to create your customized sports mouthguard. Whole process should only take a few visits and about two to three weeks, depending on how it takes the dental lab to make the mouthguard.
Patients should clean their mouthguards after each use to stop the spread of harmful bacteria. Wash the mouthguard with warm soap and water. Do not use hot water as this can warp the plastic. Store the sports mouthguard and its ventilated container between each use.
Can Mouthguards Treat Bruxism?
Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is a common symptom of TMJ disorders. TMJ disorders are caused by a dysfunction of the temporomandibular joints which connect the jawbone and skull. We offer nightguards to stop teeth grinding and alleviate jaw pain. Even though nightguards act similarly to sports mouthguards, they are not the same. Do not use sports mouthguards to treat teeth grinding or any other symptoms of TMJ disorders.
Custom Mouthguard FAQs
Can a custom made night guard shift your teeth?
Wearing a night guard can be good for your health regardless of the reason. A mouth guard can support your mouths natural alignment. However, your teeth may shift if your mouthguard does not fit properly, so it is important to be sure that your mouthguard fits without causing issues.
How long does a custom made mouthguard last?
A mouthguard will quickly wear out if it isn’t properly cleaned, kept, or maintained. However, your custom mouthguard may last up to three to five years with proper maintenance. A good rule of thumb is to replace your mouthguard every year due to general wear and tear from use.
What are custom mouth guards made of?
The custom mouthguard is created using a thermoplastic polymer and a model of the athlete’s dental structure. The mouthguard is custom-made to suit the athlete’s mouth perfectly. Fit, ease of speech, comfort, and retention are some of the benefits of a custom made mouthguard.
How should my mouth guard fit?
An improperly fitted mouthguard may end up doing more harm than good for you. If an over-the-counter mouthguard does not fit snugly to your smile, it may shift and move while you play, failing to protect your teeth should your face sustain trauma. It is important to fit custom mouthguards exactly to the mold of the athletes mouth to get all of the added benefits.
Schedule a Dental Consultation Today
Protect your smile with a mouthguard custom-tailored to you. Our Baltimore dental office will provide you with the custom mouthguard you need. Request a dental appointment with us online. Please let us know if you have questions about mouthguard treatment and we can help.