All About Sports Guards
Sports guards do more than protect your teeth—they also shield braces, implants, and other dental work, while reducing injury to the cheeks and lips during impact. They’re essential for anyone playing contact sports or activities with a risk of falls or flying objects. While store-bought options offer some protection, a custom-made guard from your dental team provides the best fit, comfort, and safety.
So, What Are Your Options?
Stock Sports Guards
Pre-formed and ready to wear, these guards are available at sporting goods stores. While convenient, they often don’t fit well, feel bulky, and can make breathing or talking difficult. Many athletes find them distracting and tend to remove them during play.
Boil & Bite Sports Guards
These guards come with a kit and require you to boil them, then bite into the plastic to shape it to your teeth. They provide a better fit than stock guards, but if they’re uncomfortable or bulky, a custom-made guard may be a better option.
Custom-Made Mouth Guards
Our top recommendation! Custom-made sports guards offer the best protection and comfort. They’re individually tailored to your mouth, ensuring a perfect fit. If adjustments are needed, we’re here to make them, ensuring you get the most comfortable and effective protection possible.
The Cost of a Custom Sports Guard in Bowmanville
The cost of a custom sports guard can vary based on factors like material and any ongoing orthodontic treatment. With insurance, expect to pay between $100 and $300+, while without insurance, costs typically range from $150 to $350 and up.
Why the variation in price?
- The type of material used for the guard
- Considerations for any existing orthodontic treatment
For an accurate quote, it’s essential to visit your dentist for a consultation and oral exam, as your needs are unique. If you have dental insurance, we can provide you with a detailed quote for submission to your provider to help determine your out-of-pocket costs.
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 are designed to fit your teeth, they serve different purposes. Sports guards protect against impact, while nightguards are intended to protect your bite and jaw alignment during sleep.
While the terms “sports guard,” “mouth guard,” and “mouth protector” are often used interchangeably, they each describe a specific type of protective appliance worn over the teeth to prevent injury or minimize damage.
- Sports Guard: This is a custom-fitted or stock device designed to protect your teeth, gums, and jaw from impact during physical activities. It’s particularly useful in contact sports or any activity where there’s a risk of injury from falls or equipment. Sports guards also protect braces and other dental appliances from damage.
- Mouth Guard: Generally used to refer to any device worn over the teeth, a mouth guard is commonly used for sports protection, but it can also be used to prevent teeth grinding (bruxism) during sleep. It helps protect your teeth from clenching and grinding, as well as from potential injuries in high-contact sports.
- Mouth Protector: A broader term that typically refers to any type of device designed to shield the teeth and mouth from injury. This term is commonly used in sports and dental contexts to protect against damage to teeth, gums, and soft tissue. It may be more generic than the others but serves the same protective purpose.
All three aim to reduce the risk of injury, but their uses and designs can vary depending on the activity or condition they’re intended to address.
Sports guards should ideally be replaced after each sports season. They can wear down over time, especially with habits like chewing or rough usage. Additionally, if your child’s teeth shift, the fit may become less effective, making regular checkups a good time to replace the guard.
A well-fitted sports guard should feel comfortable, allowing you to breathe and talk easily. If you find yourself constantly adjusting it or removing it during play, the fit may not be right.
Any sport with a risk of falls, physical contact, or flying equipment calls for a sports guard. These include football, hockey, lacrosse, baseball, soccer, skateboarding, gymnastics, and many more.
Absolutely! In fact, wearing a sports guard is especially important if you have braces. It helps protect your braces, teeth, and the inside of your lips and cheeks from injury.
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