Types of Mouth Guards
You
don’t have to be a football player to benefit from wearing a mouth protector.
Any adult or child involved in a recreational activity that poses a risk of
injury to the mouth can obtain smile protection with this important safety
device.
There
are basically two types of mouth protectors:
Pre-fabricated:
A pre-fabricated mouth guard can be purchased at stores, these mouth guards are often only offered in a general size offerings.
A pre-fabricated mouth guard can be purchased at stores, these mouth guards are often only offered in a general size offerings.
Custom:
Mouth guards can also be fabricated by your dentist using an exact model (impression) of your mouth. This type of mouth guard provides superior fit and protection.
Mouth guards can also be fabricated by your dentist using an exact model (impression) of your mouth. This type of mouth guard provides superior fit and protection.
Custom-made mouth
guards
Your
dentist can create a special mouth protector just for you – one that will
provide comfort and proper fit. A custom-made mouth protector is individually
designed and constructed in the dental office or according to your dentist’s
specifications in a professional dental laboratory.
First,
the dentist makes an impression of the patient’s teeth. Using a special
material, the dentist constructs the mouth protectors over a model of the
teeth.
Although
custom-made mouth protectors are somewhat more expensive than stock mouth
protectors purchased in stores, their exceptionally good fit, comfort, and
overall quality make them worth it. A custom-made mouth protector is easily
retained in the mouth and does not interfere with speech or breathing. For
these reason, custom-made devices are often preferred by sports enthusiasts and
recommended by dentists. So give your smile a sporting chance – ask you dentist
about mouth protectors.
Athletic Requirements
If
you have dental appliances such as orthodontic braces or bridgework, you should
wear a mouth protector that has been fitted by a dentist.
A
mouth protector should be worn at all times during contact sports, in practice
as well as during games.
Mishaps
on the playing field, the basketball court, and while riding a bicycle or
skateboard often involve blows to the head, face, and mouth.
Besides
creating a painful emergency, injuries to the mouth can result in chipped or
fractured teeth, nerve damage, and tooth loss. Wearing a mouth protector is a
simple way to prevent many of these painful and costly injuries.
Timothy A. Smith, DDS
609-T East Main Street
Purcellville, VA 20132
609-T East Main Street
Purcellville, VA 20132
