All About Sports Guards
Sports guards provide more than just tooth protection—they shield braces, dental appliances like bridges and implants, and help prevent injuries to the inside of your cheeks and lips from braces during accidents. For anyone involved in activities with potential for falls, body contact, or flying equipment, a sports guard is a smart investment. While any guard offers some protection, a custom-made guard from your dental team offers the best fit and highest level of safety, tailored precisely to your mouth and teeth.
What Are Your Options for Sports Guards?
Stock Sports Guards
These pre-formed guards are available at most sporting goods stores but tend to fit poorly, feeling bulky and often making it difficult to breathe or talk. Athletes may find them distracting, leading to frequent adjustments during play, which reduces their effectiveness.
Boil & Bite Sports Guards
Available in kits, these guards are moulded to your teeth after boiling and biting down, providing a somewhat better fit than stock guards. However, if they still feel bulky, uncomfortable, or make breathing or talking difficult, a custom guard may be the best option.
Custom-Made Mouth Guards
Our top recommendation, custom-made guards are designed specifically for your mouth by dental professionals, offering the highest level of comfort and protection. If adjustments are needed, we’re here to ensure a perfect fit, providing you with a guard tailored to both safety and comfort.
The Cost of a Custom Sports Guard in Delta
The out-of-pocket cost for a custom sports guard can vary significantly from patient to patient. With a standard insurance plan, mouth guards generally range from $100 to $300+. Without insurance, a custom mouth guard typically costs between $150 to $350 or more.
- The material used for your guard.
- Any considerations for ongoing orthodontic treatment.
So, what factors affect the cost of a custom mouth guard? Two main aspects come into play:
It’s important to remember that dental practices can’t provide an exact quote over the phone. Your needs are unique, just like your smile. Speaking with a dentist and having an oral exam is essential to understanding your treatment options and receiving an accurate cost estimate. If you have dental insurance, we’re happy to provide a quote for you to submit so you can understand your out-of-pocket costs before making a decision.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While both mouthguards and nightguards are fitted to your teeth, they serve different purposes. Sports guards protect against impact, while nightguards support your bite and align your jaw.
These terms all refer to the same thing: a device worn over your teeth to protect them from injury or minimize the severity of an impact.
Sports guards should ideally be replaced each season. They wear down over time, especially if chewed on, and shifting teeth in adolescents can also impact the fit. Many athletes opt for a new guard during their routine 6-month checkup.
A custom-fit sports guard should feel comfortable and allow easy breathing and talking. If you frequently adjust or remove it, it may not fit correctly.
Sports guards are essential for any activity involving falls, player contact, or impact from equipment, such as football, hockey, lacrosse, baseball, soccer, field hockey, water polo, cricket, ringette, curling, skateboarding, gymnastics, mountain biking, wrestling, and boxing.
Yes, and it’s especially important! A sports guard protects not only your teeth but also your braces, and shields the inside of your lips and cheeks from potential injury.
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