Mouth Guard

When it comes to protecting your teeth, nothing comes closer in effectiveness and convenience than a custom-made mouth guard, bite guard or night guard. Mouth guards are used to protect the natural teeth and dental restorations from damage caused by activities or behaviors that pose a risk to the teeth. If participating in high-impact sports activities or if you show signs of nighttime clenching or grinding (bruxism), you may benefit from a custom night guard or bite guard.

Custom night guards are the choice of dentists who understand the importance of an accurate fit when protecting their patients’ teeth. Unlike over-the-counter ‘boil and bite’ mouth guards, custom guards are designed to protect far more than the tooth enamel; they can help shield the soft tissues of the mouth against bruising, lacerations and even nerve damage. Since custom mouth guards are hand-processes, they also tend to be low- profile and offer a better fit.

Mouth guards can be made for all ages, they simply require an oral impression taken in office that is then sent to the lab for fabrication. A custom guard is then created that not only protects the teeth and gums, but also is comfortable to wear and resistant to slippage. These guards are easy to care for- even for the youngest of patients, Simply rinse it with cold water before and after each wear using a soft-bristle toothbrush and paste. Then, keep it stored in its ventilated container in a room- temperature environment.

Keep in mind that young patients may need to be re-fit for a new custom guard from time to time as they grow and their dentition changes. It is recommended that you bring your mouth guards to future dental visits for inspection and to ensure the guard continues to provide a comfortable and effective fit. Although durable and designed to last, all mouth guards inevitably need to be replaced from time to time due to normal wear and tear.