Happy New Year! At Renaissance Dental Center, we wanted to give our patients an up-to-date site where they could read about the latest and greatest dentistry has to offer. We will make an effort to post a few blogs each month, and look forward to any questions or comments you may have in the future! At Renaissance Dental Center, we take your care personally, and hope you will find value in this added service.

With the Super Bowl fast approaching, many people might be thinking about what they will be eating that night, or what commercials they will see during the game. But as a dentist, the Super Bowl reminds me how important mouthguards are in protecting teeth!

When a child begins to participate in recreational activities and organized sports, injuries can occur. A properly fitted mouth guard, or mouth protector, is an important piece of athletic gear that can help protect your child’s smile, and should be used during any activity that could result in a blow to the face or mouth. Studies show that athletes are 60 times more likely to experience a dental injury not wearing a mouthguard. In fact, it is estimated by the American Dental Association that mouthguards prevent approximately 200,000 injuries each year in high school and collegiate football alone. And you know it must help to prevent injuries in the NFL as well!!

Mouth guards are coverings worn over teeth, and often used to protect teeth from injury from teeth grinding and during sports.

There are three types of mouth guards:

1. Stock mouth protectors are preformed and come ready to wear. They are inexpensive and can be bought at most sporting good stores and department stores. However, little can be done to adjust their fit, they are bulky, make breathing and talking difficult, and they provide little or no protection. At our office, we typically do not recommend their use.
2. Boil and bite mouth protectors also can be bought at many sporting goods stores and may offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. The “boil and bite” mouth guard is made from thermoplastic material. It is placed in hot water to soften, then placed in the mouth and shaped around the teeth using finger and tongue pressure. If you need help fitting these types of mouthguards, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
3. Custom-fitted mouth protectors are individually designed and made in a dental office or a professional laboratory. First, we will make an impression of your teeth and a mouth guard is then molded over the model using a special material.

Due to the use of the special material and because of the extra time and work involved, this custom-made mouth guard is more expensive than the other types, but it provides the most comfort and protection.

Generally, mouth guards cover your upper teeth only, but in some instances (such as if you wear braces or another fixed dental appliance on your lower jaw), we will make a mouth guard for the lower teeth as well. Feel free to inquire about mouthguards at your next appointment should you have any questions on what option will work best for you or your child.