Who Needs a Custom Mouthguard?
Whether you or your child play rugby, hockey or any other activity that puts your mouth at risk of injury, a mouthguard can offer vital protection and help prevent teeth from getting chipped, cracked or knocked out altogether.
Mouthguards aren’t just important for kids, and they aren’t only for sports. Dentists may also recommend a custom mouthguard or splint to help with other conditions, including teeth grinding and sleep disorders. Contact our team to find out more.
Preventing sports injuries
All children, teenagers and adults who play sports where there is a risk of injury to their teeth are advised to wear a sports mouthguard. These can protect the teeth as well as the jaw, tongue, lips and other parts of the mouth and face, especially during contact sports such as rugby, soccer and hockey.
Besides the obvious contact sports, mouthguards can also offer protection during other activities where there is a risk of falls or impacts with other players or equipment. This includes basketball and netball, cricket, cycling and skateboarding.
If your child doesn’t wear a mouthguard, there’s a higher risk that they may need emergency dental care to repair or replace damaged or missing teeth. Many schools and sport clubs now have mandatory mouthguard policies in place to lower these risks.
Teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism)
If you grind your teeth at night, your dentist may recommend wearing a night guard, also called an occlusal splint. This is an oral device similar to a mouthguard that’s custom made to fit over your teeth and prevent them from touching during sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)
Dentists may also recommend an oral appliance similar to a mouthguard to treat obstructive sleep apnoea. These appliances, known as a mandibular advancement device or splint (MAD/MAS), fit over the teeth like a mouthguard and hold the lower jaw slightly forwards. This ensures that the throat remains open, so breathing can continue normally during sleep.
Protecting dental veneers
If you have dental veneers and there’s a risk they may be damaged by bruxism, your dentist may recommend wearing a night guard. This may only be temporary while you get used to how your veneers feel, or you may be advised to wear it every night.
Why choose a custom mouthguard?
Even if you or your child are already using a boil-and-bite mouthguard from a store, you should consider upgrading to a custom mouthguard fitted by your dentist. Custom-fitted mouthguards are recommended by the Australian Dental Association and Sports Medicine Australia for offering greater protection from injuries.
Unlike mouthguards bought over the counter, custom mouthguards are designed by your dentist to fit exactly over your teeth. This offers a more secure seal against impacts and makes them more comfortable to wear than loose-fitting mouthguards. They also don’t restrict breathing like generic mouthguards sometimes can, which can also affect athletic performance.
Book a mouthguard fitting in Mosman
Whether you need a mouthguard for sports, to stop you grinding your teeth or for other reasons, make an appointment with our dentists at Mosman 3D Dental so we can discuss your options. Call (02) 9969 8610 or book an appointment today.