Mouthguards are also known as dental guards or nightguards. They are used for a variety of reasons. Athletic mouthguards are used for sports as protective gear to reduce injuries, while nightguards help with teeth grinding, snoring, and sleep apnea.
Custom Mouthguards for High-Impact Sports
If your child is playing a contact sport such as basketball, football, or hockey, then he or she will need a mouthguard. Athletic mouthguards cover the upper teeth and help prevent injuries to the head, face or mouth, and minimize the risk of broken teeth and concussion.
Studies have shown that athletes are 60 times more likely to suffer harm to their teeth if they are not wearing a mouthguard. The American Dental Association estimates that mouthguards prevent approximately 200,000 injuries each year for students playing football in high school and college.
Although some sports-related traumatic injuries are unavoidable, most can be prevented. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry states, “Helmets, facemasks, and mouthguards have been shown to reduce both the frequency and severity of dental and orofacial trauma. The protective and positive results of wearing a mouthguard have been demonstrated in numerous epidemiological surveys and tests. However, few sports have regulations that require their use. The National Federation of State High School Associations mandates mouthguards only for football, ice hockey, lacrosse, and field hockey and for wrestlers wearing braces. Regardless of the relatively limited use of mouthguards in sports, the American Dental Associations and International Academy of Sports Dentistry currently recommend the use of mouthguards in 29 sports or activities.”
Over 90% of mouthguards are bought at sporting goods stores and do not offer as much protection. The best mouthguards are custom made by a dentist and fit exactly to the athlete’s mouth. This is especially important for people who wear braces or have fixed bridgework.
What are the Advantages of a Custom Mouthguard?
The advantages of a custom mouthguard made by a dentist include fit, ease of speech, comfort, and retention. By wearing a protective mouthguard, the incidence of a concussion by a blow to the jaw is significantly reduced because the condyle is separated from the base of the skull by placing the mandible in a forward position. They also help cushion blows to your face or mouth, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to your lips, tongue, face, or jaw.
Custom mouthguards made by Webster Dental in Downers Grove offer protection, retention, comfort, and stability of the material. Barbara Webster, DDS has been customizing and creating mouthguards for children and adults for over twenty years.
If you or your child needs a custom made mouthguard, contact Webster Dental at (630) 663-0554. Webster Dental is located at 1121 Warren Avenue, Suite 130, in Downers Grove, Illinois.