We are strong advocates of preventive dental care, which is why we create custom sportsguards for athletes of all ages. Many patients or their parents think that mouthguards are only for contact sports where athletes may be hitting or running into each other, such as hockey & football. However, there are dozens of sports for which we recommend sportsguards, some of which are considered “solo” or non-contact sports. For example, we recommend sportsguards for volleyball, soccer, gymnastics, mountain biking & rollerblading.
This type of sportsguard is prescribed & produced by a dentist to fit a patient’s mouth exactly. The process begins by taking a mold of the patient’s teeth. This involves biting down briefly into a tray of paste. From that mold we create a stone model of the teeth over which the sportsguard is formed. The guard is made from durable plastic that is either poured into a mold or vacuum formed. Because they are built from a model of a patient’s mouth, custom sportsguards offer the more secure & comfortable fit. The guard is more likely to stay in place & allows the athlete to speak & breathe normally. The custom production process does mean that this is the most expensive type of sportsguard. We believe it is also the best, because when a mouthguard works well & feels comfortable, athletes are more likely to wear it when they should!