Custom Mouthguards to Prevent Dental Emergencies in Football

To prevent the teeth from getting damaged, dentists recommend wearing mouthguards when patients participate in physical activities. Dental emergencies occur frequently, especially if one engages in physical activities or sports, especially football.

Prevent dental emergencies while participating in physical activity with custom mouthguards

Mouthguards are coverings, usually made out of rubber or plastic composite, which people wear to protect the teeth. They are used by athletes and by people who grind their teeth while sleeping to reduce wear on the teeth.

Stock mouthguards

As the name implies, these mouthguards are already preformed and ready to wear. Stock mouthguards can be bought at most department stores and sporting goods stores and are inexpensive. Since the mouthguards are already preformed it is impossible to adjust the fit. These are also usually bulky, which makes it difficult to speak when the mouthguards are in the mouth.

Boil and bite mouthguards

Like the stock version, these can be bought at any sporting goods store or department store and are also inexpensive. These mouthguards provide better protection than the stock versions because they fit better in the mouth thanks to the thermoplastic material that softens when put in hot water, allowing the user to shape the mouthguards around the teeth using their fingers.

Customized mouthguards

These are custom-fitted for the patient in a dental office or at a lab, based on the dentist’s specifications. This is the type of mouthguards that dentists recommend to patients who engage in physical activities and sports like football. It provides the most protection for the patient’s teeth because of the customized design.

The dentist will make an impression of the teeth, then mold a mouthguard over the impression. Since this requires the use of a special material and requires a lot of extra work, it is typically more expensive than the other types of mouthguards. However, the additional cost is worth it because it provides better comfort and protection than the other mouthguards.

If the patient wears braces, the dentist will customize the mouthguard to protect the lower teeth. That way the braces do not get damaged if the patient gets hit in the teeth while playing sports.

Do I need a dental mouthguard?

If someone has a tendency to grind their teeth while sleeping, a mouthguard is needed to protect the teeth from getting worn down. Also, if a person frequently plays physical sports, a mouthguard will prevent teeth from getting knocked out or chipped.

How much protection can I get from a dental mouthguard?

Some people are skeptical about using a mouthguard because they do not think it can offer them a lot of protection since it is made from plastic. Even though wearing the mouthguard does not mean the teeth will not get worn down or knocked out, it will prevent the teeth from damaging the tongue, lips and other soft tissue in the mouth. It will also prevent the teeth from getting chipped.

Conclusion

Dental mouthguards can help prevent damage to your teeth if you participate in physical activity, which is why a lot of people use them. If you are physically active and are thinking about getting a mouthguard, schedule an appointment with your dentist to get one customized for you.

Request an appointment here: https://hemetdentalcenter.com or call Hemet Dental Center: Brian Stiewel DDS, INC. at (951) 707-4366 for an appointment in our Hemet office.

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