Night Guards and Sports Mouthguards
Goshen, IN
Wearing a night guard or a sports mouthguard is an effective way for athletes or habitual teeth grinders to protect their smiles. Dr. Fugate and her team at Goshen Dentist are pleased to offer custom mouthguards made to your smile’s unique specifications for maximum comfort and protection. We are all about prevention to maintain long-term healthy smiles.
What Are Night Guards?
Grinding your teeth at night, a condition known as bruxism, can cause significant tooth wear and a host of health problems. These include damage to existing restorations, tooth sensitivity, gum recession, sleep disruption, tension headaches, jaw pain, and TMJ problems.
Night guards, also known as bite splints or occlusal guards, are oral appliances you wear during sleep to protect your teeth and jaws from damage caused by constant grinding and clenching. They cover the biting surfaces of your teeth, creating a barrier between your upper and lower teeth. Dental night guards help absorb the teeth clenching and grinding forces and prevent the devastating effects of bruxism on your smile.
What Are Sports Mouthguards?
Sports mouthguards are protective oral appliances that cover the teeth and gums during sports and other activities to prevent injuries to the mouth, teeth, and jaw. They are typically made from a soft, pliable material that absorbs the forces of impact.
Whether you or a loved one are an amateur or professional athlete engaged in contact or high-intensity sports, we highly recommend considering a sports mouthguard a necessary component of your athletic gear. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), athletes are 60 times more likely to sustain damage to their teeth without protective athletic mouthguards
What Are the Types of Mouthguards?
If you head to your local sporting goods store or shop online, you’ll find many types of mouthguards available for purchase. These include stock and boil-and-bite varieties.
Stock mouthguards come in different sizes, ready to wear. However, they are usually uncomfortable and provide a poor fit. Boil-and-bite guards are first placed in hot water, then molded to your teeth for a better fit. While more customizable, these mouthguards are not usually comfortable and rarely provide the protection you need.
Goshen Dentist is pleased to offer custom-fitted night guards and sports mouthguards created from 3D digital impressions of your teeth. These high-quality mouthguards provide superior function and maximum protection for your smile.
Can Night Guards and Sports Mouthguards Be Worn Interchangeably?
Night guards and athletic guards both protect your smile but do so in different ways. They should never be worn interchangeably.
Night guards cover the teeth and their chewing surfaces. They are made from a thin, strong material that withstands the grinding and clenching forces, protecting your teeth. Sports guards, on the other hand, extend under the gums and are made from a thick and soft material that absorbs high-intensity shocks. Wearing them interchangeably will not provide the needed protection for your smile.