What are Mouthguards?
A mouth guard is specifically designed to help protect your smile. For nighttime mouth guards, you'll wear a custom-fitted appliance to help prevent the effects of bruxism (tooth grinding). For sports and other close-contact activities, a mouth guard helps to prevent injury and damage to your teeth. Mouth guards are made to fit comfortably and easily over your existing teeth.
Why would Mouthguards be needed?
You might need a mouth guard if you or your child plays close contact sports. For these types of sports, there is more of a chance of injury to the mouth and face than other types of recreational activities. If you grind your teeth at night, you will benefit from wearing a mouth guard that is made for you to wear throughout the night. Both mouth guards provide cushion between and in front of your teeth to prevent damage to your smile.
What makes you a candidate for a Mouthguard?
To determine if you may need a mouth guard, we can perform an examination and ask about different activities that you may do while out of the dental office. If you play sports, we'll suggest wearing a mouth guard to prevent future injuries and facial trauma. We can even examine your teeth to check for signs of bruxism, and if we notice there is a problem, we will suggest wearing a nighttime mouth guard. You can have your mouth guard replaced at any time as it shows signs of wear.
What happens during the process for a Mouthguard?
The mouth guard process is quick, easy and convenient. You first come into our office and have impressions taken. These detailed molds of your teeth and gums allow us to create a customized mouth guard just for you. You'll come back in at a later time to have the mouth guard fitted and adjusted to ensure that it's comfortable. In order for the mouth guard to work properly, it should be worn either while playing sports or when sleeping at night. You can come in to have the appliance fully replaced as it shows signs of wear or damage. Most mouth guards can last for many years before replacement is needed.
If you're interested in learning more about mouth guards and how they work, call our office today to speak with one of our knowledgeable staff members.
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