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Although dental injury is commonly associated with high contact sports like football, rugby, hockey and boxing, dental and other mouth injuries may also occur as a result of contact with people or objects during many other athletic activities including basketball, soccer, squash, gymnastics, skateboarding, and taekwondo. In essence, all sports activities contain some element of risk of dental injury. Approximately 39% of all dental injuries occur while playing sports, and of those, 75% affect at least one of the most visible teeth in our smile. The most common sports-related injuries include broken teeth, knocked-out teeth, injured cheeks or tongue, and even broken jaws. To protect teeth, Tooth Suite is pleased to offer patients custom sports mouthguards
What is a Mouth Guard?
Mouth guards, also known as sports guards or athletic mouth protectors, are crucial pieces of equipment for anyone participating in potentially injurious recreational or sporting activities. Fitting snugly over the upper teeth, custom sports mouth guards protect the entire oral region from traumatic injury, preserving both the aesthetic appearance and the health of the smile. In addition, mouth guards are sometimes used to prevent tooth damage in patients who grind (Bruxism) their teeth at night
What are the different types of Mouth Guards Available?
Though there are literally thousands of mouth guard brands, most brands fall into three major categories: stock mouth guards, boil and bite mouth guards, and customized mouth guards
Stock mouth guards – These mouth guards can be bought directly off the shelf and immediately fitted into the mouth. The fit is universal (one-size-fits-all), meaning that the mouth guard does not adjust, and isn’t always a perfect fit. While stock mouth guards are very cheap, easy to fit, and quick to locate at sporting goods stores, pediatric dentists favour this type of mouth guard least, as it provides minimal protection, obstructs proper breathing and speaking, and tends to be uncomfortable.
Boil and bite mouth guards – These mouth guards are usually made from thermoplastic and are easily located at most sporting goods stores. First, the thermoplastic must be immersed in hot water to make it pliable, and then it must be pressed on the child’s teeth to create a custom mold. Boil and bite mouth guards are slightly more expensive than stock mouth guards but tend to offer more protection, feel more comfortable in the mouth, and allow for easy speech production and breathing. However, the fitting has a downside. When biting into the hot mouth guard to give it the right shape, the thickness of the device is reduced and with it so is the level of protection provided. Furthermore, preparation is required because boiling is necessary, meaning convenience is sometimes compromised.
Customized mouth guards – These mouth guards meet all the criteria of a good and effective mouth guard and offer the greatest degree of protection. They are custom-made by the dentist, so they fit perfectly. First, the dentist makes an impression of the teeth using special material, and then the mouth guard is constructed over the mold. Customized mouth guards are more expensive and take longer to fit, but they are more comfortable, orthodontically correct, and fully approved by the dentist. They offer the very best protection during sports
Some points to consider when choosing a mouth guard include:
- How much money is available to spend?
- How often does the patient play sports?
- What kind of sport does the patient play? (Basketball and baseball tend to cause the most oral injuries).
How can mouth guards protect me or my child?
The majority of sporting organizations now require that participants routinely wear mouth guards. Though mouth guards are primarily designed to protect the teeth, they can also vastly reduce the degree of force transmitted from a trauma impact point (jaw) to the central nervous system (base of the brain). In this way, mouth guards help minimize the risk of traumatic brain injury, which is especially important for younger children.
Mouth guards also reduce the prevalence of the following injuries:
- Cheek lesions
- Concussions
- Gum and soft tissue injuries
- Jawbone fractures
- Lip lesions
- Neck injuries
- Tongue lesions
- Tooth fractures
Call Tooth Suite Family Dentistry at (780) 875-4312 to schedule
a consultation regarding Custom Mouthguards for you or your child!
Tooth Suite Family Dentistry has been proudly serving
Lloydminster for over 20 Years!
Disclaimer
Dr. Marianne Stelmaschuk is a Lloydminster General Dentist. She is not a specialist in Cosmetic or Family Dentistry. Cosmetic and Family Dentistry are not specialties recognized by the Alberta Dental Association & College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta (CDSA). She provides Cosmetic and Family Dental procedures such as Porcelain Veneers, Dental Crowns, Invisalign, and Teeth Whitening as part of her General Dentistry license. As a Lloydminster Family Dentist, she provides General Dental procedures for all ages within the family. Dr. Prabhjot Singh is a licensed Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon and can offer Oral Maxillofacial specialty services as part of his license.