Do you or someone in your family play a sport?
Cricket, Basketball, Football? Do you play with the correct protection?
Mouthguards are a simple, fast and inexpensive way to protect your teeth from a sports dental injury. Dental injuries from sport can be painful, disfiguring and expensive to treat. Injuries may result in the need for you to time off work or school and may involve lengthy and expensive dental treatment.
A custom-made mouthguard by Dr Jack at Infinity Dental Care Winston Hills worn every time you train or play can protect you and can reduce the risk of dental injuries during sport activities.
Dental injuries and Sport
Common injuries seen by Dr Jack where a mouthguard is not worn include:
- cut lips
- cut gums
- cut cheeks
- cuts to the tongue or face
- chipped teeth
- broken teeth
- knocked out teeth
- broken jaw.
If you have protrusive (buck) front teeth, a high lip, braces or participate in a “collision” sport than not wearing a mouthguard at all puts you into very high risk factor for dental injuries.
Types of mouthguards:
The three basic types of mouthguard include:
- Custom-made– These mouthguards are made by Dr Jack to fit your mouth only. They provide the best protection due to their close fit, comfort and cushioning (shock absorption) effect. They are the most expensive option. However, the cost of an injury to the teeth or jaw will be a lot more expensive.
- Boil-and-bite– once the lining is softened in boiling water, you bite on the mouthguard to help it take the shape of your mouth. These mouthguards may not conform to the person’s bite and can be uncomfortable to wear. A ‘boil-and-bite’ mouthguard should be replaced each season.
- Stock– a ready-to-wear mouthguard that comes pre-formed. While these are the least expensive mouthguard, they also offer the least amount of protection. They tend to be uncomfortable and fit poorly.
Six reasons Dr Jack chooses custom-made mouthguards:
Wearing an appropriately designed and made mouthguard while playing sport will protect you against dental injuries. Your protective mouthguard should:
- Be comfortable yet tight-fitting
- Allow normal breathing and swallowing
- Allow normal speech
- Not cause gagging
- Be odourless and tasteless
- Be thick enough (4 mm) to provide protection against impact.
Dr Jacks 9 Tips to keep your mouthguard in tip top condition:
- Rinse your mouthguard in soap and warm (not hot) water after each use and allow it to air-dry.
- Disinfect your mouthguard every month with mouthwash.
- Keep your mouthguard in a well-ventilated plastic storage box when not in use.
- Do not leave your mouthguard in direct sunlight, in a closed car as heat may damage it.
- Make sure your mouthguard is in good condition before each use.
- Bring your mouthguard to every dental check-up.
- Replace your mouthguard if it is damaged.
- Replace your mouthguard after major dental treatment or tooth loss. Otherwise, it should last for several years.
- Replace your child’s mouthguard every 12 to 18 months, even if it appears to be in good condition. Growth and new teeth will alter the fit.
Frequently asked questions about custom-made mouthguards:
“How long does an appointment take?”
Dr Jack’s scanning process is quick and simple. We will schedule an appointment for about 30 minutes. Within 15-30 minutes a 3D scanner will capture images of your teeth, creating an exact digital model. We then align your bite to an optimized position, capture a final scan, and you’re all done!
“Why do I need a custom-made guard? My boil-and-bite one seems to be just fine.”
You are right – the boil and bite guards are “just fine”. However don’t you want the best protection while you play?
A well-designed custom guard provides the highest level of protection because its design can be individualized for both the athlete and the sport. The precise 3D scanning ensures an EXCELLENT, snug fit and optimal comfort. This is particularly important for our youth athletes because the comfort of the guard increases the likelihood that it will be worn.
Now for the technical part: when Dr Jack creates your individual guard he will optimize the position of your jaw to help absorb impact and dissipate pressure to assist in injury prevention.
“So which guard is right for me?”
For non-contact sports (soccer, baseball, volleyball, etc.) we recommend the Lower Performance Guard. It fits nicely along the bottom teeth for a perfect fit.
For contact sports (football, lacrosse, wrestling) you will need our Upper Protection Guard to keep your teeth protected while you are playing. It fits snugly along the top teeth so it won’t fall out.
We highly recommend our Night Recovery Guard for ALL athletes year round. The Recovery Guard allows you to get a better night’s sleep, recover quicker and perform better the next day.
“So what happens during the scanning process? Does it hurt?”
No, it won’t hurt and it’s so easy! The device is small and comfortably fits within your mouth. Dr Jack will take a few images of your teeth while you sit cozy in chair and within a half hour, you’re done.
“How soon can I get my guard?”
After your scanned appointment we will do our very best to send you the guard within 10 business days.
“If I lose it, do I need to be rescanned?”
Nope. We keep your 3D-printed impression in our lab so if you need another one, just give us a call and we’ll ship you a replacement guard within 24 hours.
“What if I have braces?”
No problem! We can make a mouthguard for those of you with braces as well.
To have your custom-made mouthguard made with Dr Jack at Infinity Dental Care Book online here or call us on (02) 9838 9111 to schedule a consultation or pop into the practice located at 180 Caroline Chisholm Drive, Winston Hills NSW 2153.
Of Course individual results may vary.