Occlusal and sports guards

An occlusal guard is a horseshoe-shaped piece of plastic which is worn over the teeth to protect them against damage caused by clenching or grinding.  It works by creating a physical barrier between your upper and lower teeth so that you bite against the plastic rather than wearing down your teeth.  Most people are unaware that they grind (also called bruxism) or clench their teeth, Some people may do this consciously during the day, but it is a larger problem at night while you are asleep.  It is often a person’s partner who first notices that they are grinding their teeth.  People tend to go through phases of grinding their teeth, such as during times of stress.  It is during these times that you may need to wear an occlusal night guard to prevent doing permanent damage to your teeth.

 

The Night Guard Provides a barrier between your top and bottom teeth while you sleep. All Night Guards are custom fitted for comfort and to allow for proper breathing. We will take an impression of your teeth and have the Night Guard created by a dental lab. Night Guards are very durable and can be used up to 10 years.

Sports guards are an essential piece of equipment in contact sports.  They should be worn by athletes of all ages who participate in sports such as:

• Football

• Hockey

• Lacrosse

• Wrestling

• Basketball

• Baseball/Softball

• Soccer

• …any sport where contact is a possibility.

 

Wearing a mouth guard helps prevent against structural damage to your teeth and jaw and also helps prevent injuries such as lacerations to your cheeks, tongue, and lips.  Mouth guards have also been shown to help decrease the risk of concussions.

 

Mouth guards are available in most any sporting goods store, but you should be careful when purchasing a mouth guard.  Mouth guards like this do not offer the best level of protection.  They are also usually ill-fitting and uncomfortable.

 

For the highest level of comfort and protection, you should visit your dentist for a custom mouth guard fitting.  A custom mouth guard is created specifically for the optimal protection of YOUR mouth.  It is created with thin plastic that is hardened to protect your teeth.  The thinness of the custom mouth guard allows for easy breathing and also allows for easy communication (especially important for you star quarterbacks calling out the signals).

 

See your dentist today for a custom mouth guard to protect your teeth and ensure that you maintain the highest level of performance on the field, court, or rink.