Dental Dictionary
Mouth Guards should be used when participating in sports. Without the proper gear, playing in sports, even on a casual basis, can be a painful, costly experience. In contact sports especially, teeth can be fractured or knocked out or they can die if a hard blow is sustained. However, if you wear a mouth guard, the risk of oral injury can be dramatically reduced. Admittedly, they are sometimes uncomfortable to wear but without them, trauma to a tooth may lead to a root canal and porcelain crown or even to the loss of a tooth and bridge work. There are three types of mouth guards available:
- Stock Mouth Protectors are bought over the counter and are not fitted to the individual. Therefore, they are often uncomfortable and frequently interfere with the athlete's breathing and speaking ability.
- Mouth Formatted Protectors are prefabricated devices which can be molded directly over the athlete's teeth.
- Custom Made Mouth Protectors are made in our office after we take a dental cast of the athlete's teeth. They are superior in protection and are generally the most comfortable of the three.
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