All About Sports Guards
Sports guards protect not only your teeth but also braces, bridges, implants, and the inside of your cheeks and lips during an accident. They’re essential for activities with a risk of falls, contact, or flying equipment. While any guard offers protection, a custom-made sports guard from your dental team provides the best fit and protection for your teeth.
So What Are Your Options?
Stock Sports Guards
Pre-formed and ready to wear, these guards are available at sporting goods stores. However, they often don’t fit well, feel bulky, and can make breathing or talking difficult, which may lead to distractions during play.
Boil & Bite Sports Guards
These guards can be molded to your teeth by boiling the blank and biting into it. While they provide a better fit than stock guards, they may still be uncomfortable or bulky. If they hinder your breathing or talking, consider a custom-made guard instead.
Custom-Made Mouth Guards
This is our top recommendation! A custom-made sports guard offers the best protection and comfort. And if it’s not perfect, we’re here to make adjustments until it’s just right for you.
The Cost Of A Custom Sports Guard In Orleans
The cost of a custom sports guard can vary depending on the patient. With insurance, a mouth guard typically costs between $100 and $300+. Without insurance, the price ranges from $150 to $350 or more.
Why does the cost vary? There are two main factors:
- The type of material used for the guard.
- Whether you are undergoing ongoing orthodontic treatment.
It’s important to note that no dental practice can give an accurate quote over the phone. To get a precise estimate, it’s essential to schedule an appointment with a dentist for an oral exam. If you have dental insurance, we can provide a quote to submit to your insurer, helping you determine 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 your mouth from impact during physical activities, while nightguards are designed to protect your teeth and jaw alignment while you sleep.
Sports guards should ideally be replaced after each sports season. They can wear down over time, especially if chewed on or misused. For growing adolescents, their guard may need replacement as their teeth shift. Many athletes get a new guard during their routine 6-month dental checkup.
These terms all refer to the same device: a protective appliance worn over your teeth.
- Sports Guard: Specifically designed to protect your teeth, gums, and jaw during physical activities, especially those involving high impact or contact.
- Mouth Guard: A general term for any device worn to protect your teeth from injury, commonly used in both sports and other scenarios like grinding or clenching.
- Mouth Protector: Another term used interchangeably with mouth guard, focusing on the device’s role in safeguarding your teeth and mouth from harm.
In essence, all three terms describe a device used to prevent or lessen the impact of injury to your teeth and oral structures.
A properly fitted sports guard should feel comfortable, allowing you to breathe and talk easily. If you’re constantly fidgeting with it or removing it during play, it may not be fitting correctly.
Any sport or activity that involves the risk of falls, player contact, or being hit by equipment should consider a sports guard. This includes football, hockey, lacrosse, baseball, soccer, wrestling, boxing, skateboarding, gymnastics, and more.
Absolutely! In fact, wearing a sports guard is even more important if you have braces. It not only protects your teeth but also shields your braces and the inside of your lips and cheeks from injury if struck.
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