Custom Sports Mouth Guards
A sports mouth guard fits over the teeth to help reduce the risk and severity of dental injuries during activities where the mouth may be struck by another person, equipment, or the ground. Contact sports are obvious examples, but mouth injuries also occur in basketball, soccer, martial arts, skateboarding, gymnastics, and other activities.
A custom guard is made from a record of your teeth instead of a standard size. The closer fit can help it stay in position while you move, breathe, and communicate, which matters because a guard only protects your teeth when you are willing to wear it consistently.
Mouth Guards for Children, Teens, and Patients With Braces
Children and teenagers may need a mouth guard replaced more often because their teeth and jaws are still changing. If the guard begins to feel tight, loose, or uncomfortable, it should be reevaluated instead of forced into place.
Braces require additional space around brackets and wires and must allow for ongoing tooth movement. If you or your child wears clear braces or another fixed orthodontic appliance, let us know before a guard is made so the design can account for the orthodontic treatment.
What If I Have Crowns, Veneers, or Other Dental Work?
Existing restorations can affect the shape of the teeth and the way a mouth guard fits. Crowns, veneers, bridges, implants, and other dental work should be considered when a new guard is made.
If you have had significant dental work since your current guard was fabricated, bring it to your next visit. We can check whether it still fits appropriately or whether a replacement would protect the teeth more reliably.
How Custom Mouth Guards Are Made and Maintained
Dental Design Studios has TRIOS 3D intraoral scanners at all nine offices. When appropriate, a digital scan can create a detailed model of your teeth for the custom appliance without traditional impression material.
After you receive the guard, rinse and clean it according to the instructions provided, let it dry before storing it in a ventilated case, and keep it away from excessive heat. Check it periodically for tears, rough areas, distortion, or a changing fit. Children, orthodontic patients, and anyone who has had new dental work may need replacements sooner than someone whose teeth have remained stable.
Sports Mouth Guards and Night Guards Are Not Interchangeable
A sports mouth guard is designed for impact protection during athletic activity. A night guard is designed to protect teeth from forces created by clenching or grinding during sleep. The appliances may look similar, but they are built for different jobs.
If you wake with worn or sensitive teeth, notice that you clench or grind, or have been told that you grind your teeth while sleeping, a custom night guard may be more appropriate than an athletic mouth guard. We can evaluate the wear patterns on your teeth and determine which type of appliance actually matches the problem.
Custom Oral Appliances for Snoring
Dental Design Studios also provides custom oral appliances for patients seeking help with snoring. A snoring appliance is different from a sports guard or night guard and should be selected only after the nature of the problem has been considered.
Persistent snoring can occur on its own, but it can also be associated with obstructive sleep apnea. Because a dental office should not diagnose the cause of snoring from symptoms alone, patients seeking an appliance for snoring should first have the breathing concern evaluated by a physician when a sleep-related breathing disorder has not already been ruled out. Once the medical side is clear, Dental Design Studios can discuss whether a custom oral appliance fits the recommended plan and what to expect from the device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are custom mouth guards better than boil-and-bite guards?
A custom guard is made specifically for your teeth, while a boil-and-bite product starts from a prefabricated shape. The closer custom fit can improve stability and comfort for regular athletic use.
Can my child wear a mouth guard with braces?
Often, yes. The guard needs enough room for brackets, wires, and ongoing tooth movement, so it should be designed with the orthodontic appliances in mind.
Can I use my sports mouth guard for teeth grinding?
A sports guard and a night guard are designed for different types of force. If grinding or clenching is the concern, a custom night guard is usually the more appropriate appliance.
Can a mouth guard stop snoring?
A custom oral appliance may help some patients with snoring, but the device used for snoring is different from an athletic mouth guard. Persistent snoring should also be evaluated appropriately when there is concern about sleep apnea.
When should I replace my mouth guard?
Have it checked if it becomes damaged, loose, tight, uncomfortable, or no longer stays in position. Growth, orthodontics, and new dental work can all change the fit.
Custom Mouth Guards Near You
Dental Design Studios provides care at nine locations across the Greater Phoenix area: Apple Tree Dental Studio in Avondale, Arizona Family Dental in Chandler, 75th Ave Dental Studio in Glendale, Happy Valley Dental Studio in Phoenix, Hatcher Dental Studio in Phoenix, Smile Dental Studio in Phoenix, Thunderbird Dental Studio in Peoria, Dental Design Studio of Gilbert in Gilbert, and Scottsdale Dental Studio in Scottsdale.
If sports, braces, or a changing bite have made you question whether your current guard still fits, bring it with you. We can check the fit and discuss a custom guard or, for snoring concerns, the right dental next step after the medical side has been evaluated.
