Protecting Your Smile with a Custom Mouthguard
Santa Teresa Dental is pleased to offer protective mouthguards to prevent oral health problems resulting from nighttime teeth grinding and sport-related injuries. Our custom oral appliances are made to the specifications of your smile for the best possible fit, comfort, and protection. We invite you to contact our Morgan Hill practice to get started today!
What Is a Night Guard?
Grinding or clenching your teeth during sleep, a condition known as bruxism, can leave your health at risk. You may not realize that you grind your teeth at night until you are alerted by a family member or significant other. Symptoms of nighttime bruxism may include gum recession and worn, flattened, fractured, sensitive, or loose teeth. Patients often experience morning headaches, facial pain, TMJ disorders, and sleep disruptions.
Dental night guards, also known as occlusal guards or nocturnal bite plates, provide a barrier between the top and bottom teeth as you sleep. While night guards are no cure for bruxism, they provide cushioning and absorb the grinding and clenching forces, protecting your teeth and jaws from damage.
What Is a Sports Mouthguard?
High-impact and contact sports, like football, soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and skateboarding, are becoming increasingly popular but often come with an increased risk of dental injuries. These include dislodged, knocked out, fractured, broken, or chipped teeth, as well as injuries to the soft tissues, including the gums, tongue, and cheeks.
Sports mouthguards are protective oral appliances that are designed to cushion the mouth, teeth, and jaws, preventing serious damage where most injuries occur. Dental professionals support the use of mouthguards for any kids, teens, or adults participating in sports. According to the American Dental Association, the simple protective measure prevents more than 200,000 sports-related dental injuries in high school and college football each year!
What Are the Different Types of Mouthguards?
There are different mouthguard options available to you, but they are not all created equal. Depending on the material, design, and quality, a mouthguard can differ in its fit, comfort, protection, ease of maintenance, and longevity.
Here is a look at the different types of mouthguards:
Stock Mouthguards: These preformed mouth protectors come in different sizes, ready to wear. They are inexpensive and are readily available at most department and sporting goods stores. Unfortunately, stock mouthguards are usually bulky, provide an uncomfortable fit, may interfere with breathing and talking, and provide little to no protection. Like most dental professionals, Dr. Huang and Dr. Ann do not recommend their use.
Boil and Bite Mouthguards: These over-the-counter mouth protectors are more customizable than stock mouthguards. They are made from a thermoplastic material you place in hot water to soften, then mold to your teeth using a finger and your tongue. While they may provide a better fit, boil and bite mouthguards are often bulky and uncomfortable and rarely offer the needed protection for your smile.
Custom-Fitted Mouthguards: These superior mouthguards are made from impressions of your mouth, taking into account every subtle detail of your teeth and bite. They are fabricated at a dental laboratory by skilled technicians using high-quality, durable materials. Custom mouthguards are carefully crafted for your smile, providing the best fit, comfort, and protection.
Custom Mouthguards Near Me in Morgan Hill, CA
Visit Santa Teresa Dental to learn more about safeguarding your smile with a custom mouthguard. Whether you grind your teeth in your sleep or engage in high-impact sports, we have the perfect solution for you. Dr. Huang and Dr. Ann are committed to delivering custom oral appliances made from the highest quality materials for maximum protection for your smile. We invite you to call us at 408-782-6568 to schedule an appointment or request one online today!