If you or your child play contact sports, you want the best mouthguard to protect the teeth and gums. Contact sports such as football, basketball, soccer, and lacrosse require sports mouthguards. Our professional sports mouthguards that we offer in our Suffolk, VA office conform to the teeth, unlike over-the-counter mouthguards.
Dr. Steve Gwaltney, Dr. J.Ryland Gwaltney, and Dr. Whitney Gwaltney offer general dentistry services and are passionate about helping patients regardless of age.
Custom sports mouthgaurds are constructed with the most durable material and to provide the ultimate amount of protection when playing sports. Store bought mouth pieces are not as thick and the materials used to make them are not as strong. They are also one size fits most. As you know, people’s mouths come in a variety of shapes and sizes. When they are made to conform to the patient’s mouth, they will work and fit better.
Benefits of Custom Sports Mouthguards
Our custom sports mouthguards come with many benefits. Mouthguards:
- Protect the jaw from trauma
- Minimize the risk of damaged teeth
- Reduce the risk of knocked out teeth
- Allow sports players to speak clearly
- Reduce stress on the neck
- Minimize the risk of bruising to the soft tissues
- Allows the athlete to breather easier
If you or your child need a sports mouthguard, call our office for treatment today. We will create a comfortable sports mouthguard so you or your child can play sports without having to worry about losing a mouthguard. Patients who use non-professional mouthguards often need to clench their teeth to keep them from falling out.
Treatment with Sports Mouthguards
To create custom mouthguards, we take digital impressions of the teeth. Using these impressions, we work with a local dental lab to fabricate the mouthguard. Then we will check the size and fit of the mouthguard when it is complete. Properly fitting mouthguards help reduce patients’ risk of injury to teeth and jaw. Mouthguards act as a preventative measure that not only saves money but can even reduce the chance of tooth loss.
Over-the-counter mouthguards do not offer a custom-fit. Because of this, they can interfere with breathing and speaking. They also may not be as comfortable as professional mouthguards.
Even though sports mouthguards are necessary and sometimes required for sports, they should not be used for other purposes. They are specifically designed to protect teeth and gums when there is trauma to the face and mouth area. They are not designed for people who need to protect their teeth from bruxism or as a sleep apnea treatment. Patients who suffer from teeth grinding or sleep apnea will require a totally different type of mouth piece.
Custom Mouthguard FAQs
How long does a custom made mouthguard last?
A night guard has a lifespan of five years on average. However, depending on your oral care and wear, it may need to be a replacement after just one year.
Is a custom made mouthguard better than generic brands?
>Thermoplastic, which is much more durable than the plastic you’ll find in stores, is used to make mouthguards that are custom-fitted. They are also made by a dental professional, increasing the likelihood that they will perfectly fit your teeth.
What are custom mouthguards made of?
A model of the athlete’s dental structure helps to construct the thermoplastic polymer mouthguard. This material is much more durable and is customizable. Our office takes a mold, which then creates the mouthguard, which precisely conforms to the athlete’s mouth. The benefits include comfort, fit, and ease of speaking.
How should a custom mouthguard fit?
Your mouthguard may feel snug when you initially put it on, but it must fit snugly to stay on your teeth without relying on your jaw for support. The customized mouthguard should not fall out during the play thanks to its secure fit.
Why do my teeth hurt after wearing a mouthguard?
It is a sign that your mouth guard does not fit properly in your mouth if you experience pain or your mouth hurts after wearing it. It’s possible that the device is too big or too little and isn’t giving you the proper protection you want and need. If this is the case, we will take a new mold of your mouth and create a new mouthguard that fits better.
Request a Dental Appointment
If you are in the Suffolk or Carrollton, VA area, you can receive a custom, comfortable sports mouthguard today. Call Gwaltney Dental for treatment at 757.982.8467 or schedule an appointment with our dental team on our website.
Please let us know if you have any remaining questions about sports mouthguards or the other dental mouthguards we provide. We are always happy to assist our patients and educate them on our different methods of treatment.