All About Sports Guards
Sports guards protect not only your teeth but also braces, dental implants, and the inside of your cheeks and lips. They’re a smart investment for anyone involved in sports with risks of falls, contact, or flying equipment. While any sports guard is better than none, nothing compares to a custom-made guard from your dental team, tailored to fit your mouth and teeth.
Your Options for Sports Guards
Stock Sports Guards
These come pre-formed and ready to wear, available at sporting goods stores. They often don’t fit well, can feel bulky, and make breathing or talking difficult. Athletes frequently find them distracting and may remove or play with them during the game.
Boil & Bite Sports Guards
These come with instructions for shaping the guard. You boil it in water and then bite into it to mold it to your teeth. While they offer a better fit than stock guards, they can still be uncomfortable, bulky, or hard to breathe or talk with. If this is the case, a custom guard may be a better option.
Custom-Made Mouth Guards
This is our favourite option, and for good reason! Custom-made sports guards offer the best protection and comfort. If it’s not comfortable (though rare), we’re here to make adjustments, ensuring it fits perfectly for your needs.
The Cost of a Custom Sports Guard in Waterdown
The cost of a custom sports guard can vary from patient to patient. With typical insurance coverage, a mouth guard generally costs between $100 and $300+. Without insurance, the price for a custom guard typically ranges from $150 to $350 or more.
Why Does the Cost of a Custom Mouth guard Vary? Two major factors influence the cost:
- The type of material used for the guard
- Considerations for ongoing orthodontic treatment
Keep in mind that no dental practice can provide an accurate quote over the phone. Since your needs are as unique as your smile, it’s essential to consult with a dentist and undergo an oral exam to explore your treatment options and receive a precise quote. If you have dental insurance, we’d be happy to provide a quote for you to submit to your insurance provider to determine your out-of-pocket costs before making a decision.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While both mouthguards and nightguards fit snugly over your teeth, they serve different purposes. Sports guards are designed to protect your mouth from impact, while nightguards are focused on protecting your bite and the position of your teeth and jaw.
While these terms are often used interchangeably, they all refer to protective devices worn over the teeth, but each one can have specific nuances depending on the context:
Sports Guard:
A sports guard is a type of mouthguard specifically designed to protect the teeth, gums, and jaw during sports or physical activities. It is typically thicker and more durable to withstand impact from falls, collisions, or contact with sports equipment. Sports guards are most commonly used in high-risk activities such as football, hockey, or boxing.
Mouthguard:
A mouthguard is a general term for any appliance that fits over the teeth to prevent injury. It is commonly used for protecting teeth during physical activities (sports) and to prevent damage from teeth grinding at night (nightguards). Mouthguards are often custom-fitted by a dentist to ensure comfort and optimal protection.
Mouth Protector:
A mouth protector is another term for a mouthguard, but it can also refer to any device designed to shield the mouth and teeth from injury. Mouth protectors are used in various situations, such as sports, dental procedures, or even during certain medical treatments. In sports, they help prevent injury to the teeth, gums, and soft tissues in the mouth.
In summary, while all these terms refer to a similar protective device, “sports guard” typically refers to one used in physical activities, “mouthguard” is a broader term that can apply to both sports and teeth grinding, and “mouth protector” is used to describe any device that protects the teeth and mouth.
Sports guards should ideally be replaced after each sports season. Over time, they can wear down, especially if the wearer chews on them or misuses the appliance. In adolescents, teeth can shift, causing the guard to no longer fit properly. Many athletes choose to get a new guard during their routine 6-month check-up.
A custom-fit sports guard should feel comfortable, allowing you to breathe and talk easily. If you find yourself constantly fidgeting with it or removing it during the game, it may not be fitting properly.
Any sport or activity where you may fall, come into contact with others, or get hit by a ball or equipment. Sports like football, hockey, lacrosse, baseball, soccer, water polo, gymnastics, wrestling, boxing, and many more contact or high-risk sports require a sports guard.
Yes, and it’s highly recommended! A sports guard protects not only your teeth but also your braces and the inside of your lips and cheeks from injury in case of a facial impact.
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