Our dentists commonly recommend mouth guards to help with nighttime grinding (which can lead to significant tooth decay), as well as to prevent sports injuries. They are normally worn just on the upper teeth. When considering a mouth guard, there are two primary options.
Off-the-shelf
Although readily accessible and inexpensive, we do not recommend purchasing a ready-to-wear guard in a store. Very little can be done to adjust their fit, they are bulky, make breathing and talking difficult, and they provide little or no protection.
Custom
Custom mouth guards are individually designed by our office, in coordination with a dental laboratory. The process consists of taking an impression of your teeth, which we forward to a special laboratory where the guard is molded over the model using a special material. Due to the use of the special material and because of the extra time and work involved, a custom-made mouth guard is more expensive than the other types, but it provides the most comfort and protection.
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