• Our Practice
  • Categories
    • Oral Health = Whole Body Health
    • Common Dental Issues & Procedures
    • Consumer Guides & Information
    • Cosmetic Dentistry & Teeth Whitening
    • Implant Dentistry
    • News/PR
    • Orthodontics, Braces, & Invisalign
    • Pediatric Dentistry & Children
    • Uncategorized
  • Book An Appointment
LOOKING FOR A GREAT DENTIST IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA? START HERE!
1st Family Dental Blog1st Family Dental Blog
  • Our Practice
  • Categories
    • Oral Health = Whole Body Health
    • Common Dental Issues & Procedures
    • Consumer Guides & Information
    • Cosmetic Dentistry & Teeth Whitening
    • Implant Dentistry
    • News/PR
    • Orthodontics, Braces, & Invisalign
    • Pediatric Dentistry & Children
    • Uncategorized
  • Book An Appointment

The Benefits of Dentist Fitted Mouthguards

Home Consumer Guides & InformationThe Benefits of Dentist Fitted Mouthguards
the benefits of dentist fitted mouthguards

The Benefits of Dentist Fitted Mouthguards

August 2, 2016 Consumer Guides & Information, Pediatric Dentistry & Children
FacebookTwitter

Are you an athlete? Do you participate in club or even casual sports teams, or other high-impact activities like CrossFit? Do you wear a mouthguard regularly? If not, take a quick look in the mirror, or grab your smart phone and turn the camera lens around. Can you picture yourself with a missing front tooth? You might need to. Maybe we can help change your mind with this discussion about the benefits of dentist fitted mouthguards.

What Can Happen If I Don’t Wear A Mouthguard?

In addition to team sports, things can still get physical even during casual and non-competitive team sports or intramural activities. A direct impact to the front of your face with no mouthguard can fracture your front teeth, or even knock one or more of them out. A hit to your lower jaw can slam your jaws together, not only putting a huge amount of stress on your teeth, which can cause cracks and breaks, but it can also cause jaw fractures, damage to your TMJ joint, and can also result in a concussion. For kids, sports injuries account for almost 40% of dental trauma. If you have braces or your child is an orthodontic patient, the trauma from a sports injury can damage not only teeth, but the sensitive tissue inside the mouth.

How Do Mouthguards Work?

Mouthguards are like airbags – they serve to absorb the shock of impact, and to diffuse the pressure around the material of the mouthguard, instead of your teeth and jaws. By absorbing and dissipating, mouthguards can drastically reduce the chances of incurring an injury such as a knocked out front tooth or a concussion.

Types of Mouthguards and How They Stack Up Against Each Other:

Ready-Made Mouthguards

the benefits of dentist fitted mouthguards - wear a mouthguardPROS: Ready made mouthguards are typically very inexpensive, usually $10 or less and can be purchased at any sporting goods store. That means they are relatively cheap to replace if you lose it. Some mouthguard is better than “no” mouthguard.

CONS: Chances are also pretty high that you will lose or misplace this type of mouthguard, because, as with any one-size-fits-all item, “fits” is a relative term. These foamy, bulky mouthguards may work diffuse some of the impact of a hit, but only if you want to wear it. This type is not fitted to your mouth, and is likely to fall out or come loose when you run or are active. They can be hard to breathe around, and if you try to speak you may sound like you’ve stuck a sock in your mouth. They are also less durable and need to be replaced more often. Also, if everyone’s mouthguard looks alike, and you may end up putting someone else’s in your mouth before you realize it and… well, we’ll just leave you with that thought.

Mouth-Formed (Boil and Bite) Mouthguards

PROS: These are by far the most common mouthguards we see. They are still affordable at around $15-20. These are fitted to your teeth by placing the mouthguard in very hot water and then biting into it firmly. The chances of this type of mouthguard falling out when you are running or active is less than a ready-made one, and if you are more likely to wear it, it is more likely to protect you from tooth trauma or concussion.

CONS: Boil and bite mouthguards are still bulky and can be hard to breathe around or speak while wearing. This means you are constantly taking it out of your mouth, you’re more likely to lose it. Boil and bite mouthguards will need to be replaced more often than a custom fitted mouthguard. Finally, although they are fitted better because of the teeth impressions, there is still a greater chance that it can come loose, reducing its effectiveness, which means you could end up out $20 AND missing your front tooth.

Custom Dentist Fitted Mouthguards

PROS: Custom fitted mouthguards are the best option when it comes to protection against trauma and concussion. In fact, a study confirmed that custom-fitted mouthguards can reduce your chances of concussion by more than 50%. Custom fitted mouthguards are exactly that – made to not only fit snugly over your teeth, but also into your mouth. Many athletes who use this kind of mouthguard notice a very low profile, which means it is much easier to breathe and speak around due to its special shape. A great fit means you’re less likely to take it out or misplace it. Custom fitted mouthguards are also very durable, can be disinfected easily, and you can often custom-order yours with colors and even logos.

CONS: By far the cost of a custom-fitted mouthguard is the deal breaker for most. At around $300, most people don’t see the value, unless they are looking back in regret after they are dealing with medical or dental bills because of a broken tooth or even a concussion. However, many people who have custom mouthguards wouldn’t go back to any other kind, once they realize the kind of protection they can get, in a way that does not impede their performance. Custom fitted mouthguards can also take up to 2 weeks to receive, because impressions are made at a dental office and custom made offsite.

How Can I Get a Dentist Fitted Mouthguard?

You can get a custom dentist fitted mouthguard made at any of our 1st Family Dental offices and ready to pick up in about a week. We can order custom colors and logos to make your mouthguard as unique as you are. 1st Family Dental also offers boil and bite mouthguards for sale at our offices. You can also order them online in a variety of colors.

No matter what kind of mouthguard you choose, please choose one, and please wear it. Dental injuries such as a missing front tooth, damage to TMJ joint, and concussions can have lasting and significant impacts on not just your teeth, but on your whole-body health. Please take the time to protect yourself or the athlete in your life and make sure they have the best chance to keep a healthy smile for life.

phone number - 855-251-0766

OR

book appointment online - 1st Family Dental

Join Us In the Comments!

Have a question about dentist fitted mouthguards? Ask in the comments below!

Leave a comment
Share

You also might be interested in

1st Family Dental Does The Harlem Shake!

Feb 27, 2013

FacebookTwitter Who says going to the dentist can’t be fun?[...]

Patient Undergoing a Procedure

Highlights from our Free Dental Care Days in the Suburbs

Mar 11, 2013

FacebookTwitter 1st Family Dental gave patients an extra reason to[...]

Free Dental Care Day at 1st Family Dental of Logan Square

Mar 14, 2013

FacebookTwitter On Wednesday, March 13, 1st Family Dental hosted its[...]

6 Comments

Leave your reply.
  • Ridley Fitzgerald
    · Reply

    July 11, 2018 at 5:25 PM

    It sounds like getting a mouthguard is really nice. I like how you said that the custom ones are pretty great because they reduce the chance of concussions! My son wants to play football, so I’ll have to get him one of these.

  • Dez
    · Reply

    February 28, 2018 at 1:10 PM

    So even if I canr afford to pay 2 co pays to have each side cleaned, EVERY 3 MONTHS as recommended it makes more sense to not clean at all or have any other treatment? A cancer patient can refuse treatment, a parent can refuse to have medical care for their child, but I HAVE TO GET A DEEP CLEANING???

  • Rockford Johnson
    · Reply

    October 7, 2016 at 7:09 AM

    Reading this article has helped me to understand the benefits that come with dentist fitted mouthguards. It was interesting to learn that these mouth guards can make breathing and talking a lot easier when you play sports. I hope that I can remember this article when I have kids in the future.

  • Ryan Koenig
    · Reply

    August 9, 2016 at 4:21 AM

    Mouthguard is important whether you are a child or adult, just make it a habit of wearing during play, during riding then you are protecting your teeth, gums and many other sensitive tissues as a doctor I will strongly recommend to wear this. Anyway, nice post I really like the way it explains. 🙂

Leave a Reply

Comment
Cancel Reply

blog.1stamilydental

1st Family Dental offers a full range of general, specialty dental and orthodontic services for the whole family. With online appointment booking and several convenient locations in and around Chicago IL, taking care of your dental health needs for you and your family couldn’t be easier.

OUR CHICAGO DENTAL CLINICS

Albany Park
Andersonville
Little Village
Logan Square
Old Town
Pulaski Ave.

OUR SUBURBAN DENTAL CLINICS

View our locations in the Chicago, IL Suburbs here

For Press Inquiries

Please contact:
Vicky Khawaja
vicky@1fd.org
(773) 294-0378

All logos, text, and images subject to terms of use and privacy policy. Click Here to download our logo.

1st Family Dental © 2023 · Privacy Policy · Internet Marketing Services by Conversion Strategies, Inc.

Prev Next