Mouth guards protect the teeth and gums from damage. People can use mouth guards to protect their teeth and mouths during a range of activities, from playing sports to sleeping. There are various types of mouth guards, depending on the patient's needs.
Oak Tree Dental offers mouth guards in Poway and the surrounding area. Our team can help you keep your smile safe. Call us today at (858) 748-2101 to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment.
Mouth guard candidacy
Mouth guards are a preventative appliance that can protect the teeth and gums from harm or injury. These tools are a great way to protect the soft tissues of the tongue, lips, and inner cheeks. They help cushion the face from trauma during sports, prevent broken teeth, and stop injuries to the jaw, face, tongue, or lips.
There are various mouth guards that patients can choose from depending on their needs. People who may benefit from getting a mouth guard include those who:
- Grind their teeth
- Have specific sleep issues
- Have temporomandibular disorders (TMD)
- Participate in contact sports
“Mouth guards are a preventative appliance that can protect the teeth and gums from harm or injury.”
The process of creating a custom mouth guard
Custom mouth guards provide people with the best protection and fit for their mouths. They are designed to a patient's specific needs, whether it is for sports or nighttime use. Our team personalizes these devices to a patient's bite to provide optimal protection and comfort for the teeth and gums. The first step of creating a custom-fitted mouth guard is to take a mold or impression of the patient's teeth.
The impression will serve as a replica of the mouth so we can create a mouth guard over it. There are two methods to create custom mouth guards. The first method involves stretching the thermoplastic mouth guard material over the model with a vacuum machine. The other method is the pressure laminate method which involves using a pressure thermo-forming machine to stretch the mouth guard material over the model. This technique gives mouth guards multiple protective layers rather than only one.
“Custom mouth guards provide people with the best protection and fit for their mouths.”
When to wear a mouth guard
Mouth guards are beneficial during various activities, from playing sports to sleeping at night. They are especially helpful for children and adults who clench their jaws and grind their teeth. Wearing a nocturnal bite plate or bite splint at night while sleeping can provide patients suffering from bruxism with some relief.
The mouth guard acts as a barrier between the teeth so that the enamel does not get worn down from grinding during sleep. They can protect teeth from excessive wear and temporomandibular joint disorders. It also allows the jaw muscles to recover during sleep.
“Wearing a mouth guard at night during sleep can provide patients with bruxism with some relief.”
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Patients who snore or have mild to moderate sleep apnea may benefit from a dental mouth guard. During sleep apnea, a person temporarily stops breathing while asleep. This condition increases the risk of heart disease and stroke and can also cause excessive snoring.
A mouth guard for sleep apnea does not cover the teeth but instead pushes the lower jaw and tongue forward, keeping the airway open. This dental device can improve sleep quality and reduce the frequency and loudness of snoring. Mouth guards designed just to reduce snoring tend to work similarly to mouth guards for sleep apnea.
“A mouth guard for sleep apnea does not cover the teeth but instead pushes the lower jaw and tongue forward, keeping the airway open.”
Questions answered on this page
Q. How can a mouth guard help patients who snore or have sleep apnea?
Q. How is a mouth guard created?
Q. How often should people wear their mouth guards?
Q. How can mouth guards protect teeth during sports?
People also ask
Q. What methods are available to repair a chipped tooth?
Q. What sorts of trauma can necessitate tooth extraction?
Q. How effective are mouth guards?
Q. What is the difference between mouth guards and night guards?
Mouth guards and sports
Many dental injuries are sports-related. Mouth-related sports injuries can result in fractured tooth roots, broken or chipped teeth, and cuts to the lips or inner cheeks. Mouth guards are essential pieces of equipment for any person that plays sports to avoid dental trauma.
They are especially important for people who play high-contact sports and are at greater risk for facial trauma. The highest risk sports for dental injuries are basketball, football, hockey, martial arts, and boxing. People who play non-contact sports, such as skating, biking, and gymnastics, can also benefit from wearing a mouth guard to protect their mouth.
“Mouth guards are essential pieces of equipment for any person that plays sports to avoid dental trauma.”
Frequently asked questions
The cost of a mouth guard depends on the type, material, and other specifications. Some insurance plans may help cover the cost. Since every insurance plan is different, patients should contact their insurance provider for more coverage information.
It is important to take care of mouth guards to prevent them from breaking or warping. Rinsing the device with cold water and brushing them with a soft-bristled toothbrush will remove unwanted bacteria and debris. We recommend storing them in a protective container and avoiding hot surfaces or sunlight that can cause the mouth guard to warp.
Bruxism is when someone grinds their teeth and clenches their jaw. It is often the result of stress, sleep disorders, acid reflux, or a misaligned bite. Certain activities, such as smoking or drinking alcohol, can also increase the risk of grinding teeth.
Braces wearers should use a mouth guard since they are especially vulnerable to sports-related injuries. Braces can help prevent soft-tissue injuries to the inner cheeks and lips. Patients can have custom-fitted mouth guards that fit over braces.
The longevity of a mouth guard will depend on how frequently a person uses their device. With the right care, mouth guards can for several years. Patients should bring their mouth guard to dental check-ups for inspection. Custom-fitted mouth guards are typically more durable than over-the-counter ones.
Family dental terminology
Custom impression involves using trays to create an exact replica of the patient’s teeth before creating the necessary restoration to enhance the overall experience.
A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity.
Injection-Molded Mouthguards help to create a much more specific fit with a type of molding material that fills available space instead of requiring a patient to boil the mouthguard in hot water.
Laminated pressure-formed mouthguards requires a process that involves applying high heat and pressure to form a mouthguard that meets the needs of the patient.
A mandible fracture is a fracture in the lower jaw that breaks through the mandibular bone and is normally a result of trauma.
Oral trauma is any form of trauma or force that results in an injury of the mouth or teeth. Oral trauma can occur after an accident, injury or disease.
Occlusion describes the mandibular and maxillary rows of teeth meeting when the patient bites down. If a patient does not have a healthy bite, they are struggling with malocclusion.
An overjet is a bite orientation that results from the maxillary central incisors (top center teeth) protruding over the mandibular central incisors (bottom front teeth); this may also be known as “buck teeth” by patients.
Learn more about mouth guards
Mouth guards can protect the mouth and teeth during various activities, from sports to sleeping. Our team at Oak Tree Dental can determine whether you are a good candidate for a mouth guard. Call us at 858-748-2101 for more information about our services or schedule an appointment.
Individual results vary. How long a treatment lasts, and how it looks and feels, depends on each patient.