3 Reasons for a Custom-Made Mouthguard
2 minute read
If you or your kids play contact sports or other activities where teeth and jaws could receive impact, wearing a custom-made mouthguard can lower your risk of incurring serious injuries and paying for expensive corrective treatments.
A custom-made mouthguard fitted by your dentist provides superior protection for your teeth and jaws than an over-the-counter mouthguard. This is because it’s designed to fit the exact contours of teeth and gums and fit closely and comfortably enough to absorb any impact from a collision.
Custom-made mouthguards are typically prescribed for one of three reasons:
- Sports protection
- Teeth grinding (Bruxism)
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
Your dentist can explain what getting a custom mouthguard involves and how it compares to other types of mouthguards, so you can decide if it’s the right choice for you or your child.
Sports protection
Wearing a custom-fitted sports mouthguard can help to reduce the severity and even prevent a dental injury from occurring, particularly high-impact contact sports such as rugby, soccer and hockey, as well as other risky reactional activities.
Many schools and sport clubs now enforce a mandatory mouthguard policy to make sure players are protected during games as well as training.
A custom-made mouthguard absorbs more shocks during impacts, making it less likely that you or your child will need to see an emergency dentist for a damaged or knocked out tooth or other injuries to the mouth or jaw.
If you or your child are having orthodontic treatment with braces or another fixed appliance, over-the-counter mouthguards can fit poorly and feel uncomfortable. This can sometimes cause additional injuries if braces come loose in impacts.
A custom mouthguard offers more protection and will keep braces in place, as it’s designed around your braces or retainer as well as your teeth.
Our mouths and jaws don’t stop growing until the age of 18 years. For people within this age range, it’s important to get your mouthguard checked by the dentist regularly to make sure it still fits properly and can provide the protection you require. Custom-made mouthguards when well-cared for can last several seasons.
Teeth grinding
Involuntary teeth grinding or clenching is known as bruxism. This can cause pain and sensitivity and may lead to serious problems such as misaligned or damaged teeth or jaw problems such as TMJ disorders.
If you or your child grind your teeth while you’re asleep, one treatment your dentist might suggest is a splint or night guard. These are designed to fit comfortably over your teeth, similar to a custom mouthguard.
A night guard prevents the teeth from grinding together, which can help to relieve jaw pressure and reduce tooth wear and other damage from grinding.
Obstructive sleep apnoea
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a chronic sleep disorder that causes breathing to be interrupted during sleep. This can lead to sleep deprivation and a wide range of health issues if the condition isn’t treated effectively.
Sleep apnoea needs to be diagnosed by a sleep specialist before it can be treated by a doctor or dentist. For mild to moderate cases of OSA, your dentist may prescribe wearing a device similar to a custom mouthguard.
Known as a mandibular advancement splint or device (MAS/MAD), a sleep apnoea mouthguard brings the lower jaw forward and holds the airway open to prevent it from closing and interrupting your breathing during sleep.
Custom mouthguard in Kelmscott and Armadale
Our dentists at Kelmscott Dental provide custom-made mouthguards for kids, teenagers and adults and other oral appliances for sports protection and to assist with treating bruxism, TMJ disorders and OSA .
If you want to know more about custom mouthguards or to arrange a fitting, call our friendly team today on (08) 9495 7999 to book a consultation or book online. We also serve all nearby Perth suburbs.
