Mouth Guards
One of the most important and yet under-used tools available to help preserve your smile is the dental mouth guard.
Also known as occlusal guards, bite splints,bite planes and dental guards they serve a very practical purpose of protecting your teeth from damage caused by trauma.
There are two primary classes of mouth guards. Mouth guards worn during the day for sports, and other activities where external trauma to the head and face are a risk factor; and Night guards (which can also be worn during the day) but are primarily for protecting the teeth against damage caused by internal stress or grinding.
This condition known as bruxism is when extreme clenching of the teeth and jaw over time cause damage to the teeth. It can lead to fractures and other painful (and expensive) dental problems. Many people have the tools to cope during the day but will grind and clench at night in their sleep,hence the recommendation for a night guard.
There are many products available to consumers, and while using something is better than nothing, the inferior products you can purchase in a retail location, often don’t stand up to the forces involved.
Having a custom guard fabricated using molds of your teeth by a dental professional is really the better way to go. They will always fit better, feel better, last longer and protect more thoroughly.
We (and every dentist we know) have had patients come in with injuries sustained during sports while wearing a pre-fab or boil and bite mouth guard.
Consider having yours done, consult with your dentists, or call us if you have any questions.