Mouthguards

The enamel that covers your teeth is extremely hard. In fact, it is the hardest substance in your body. However, it isn’t indestructible. Wearing a mouthguard can protect your teeth and gums should you experience a sudden injury to the jaw, mouth, or head or if you have a history of clenching or grinding your teeth.

Pike & Valega, DDS understands the valuable role mouthguards play in injury prevention and dental treatment. Our preventative dental services offered at our Poolesville dental office and Rockville dental office can help determine if you could benefit from wearing a mouthguard.

Wearing a Mouthguard Reduces an Athlete’s Risk for Injury

Mouthguards are small, flexible plastic trays that fit securely over the teeth and gums. If you should experience a sudden hit to the head when playing a sport, the mouthguard — if it is being worn and fits properly — will act as a cushion and protect the teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue from injury.

If you were to take a direct hit to the head and weren’t wearing a mouthguard, there is nothing there to absorb the force of the hit. This could cause injury to the lips or other soft tissue of the mouth. It could also cause tooth damage or even tooth loss.

Athletes of all ages can benefit from wearing a mouthguard, especially if they are participating in a moderate to high-level contact sport, currently undergoing orthodontic treatment, or have certain types of fixed dental work. Our dental team can help you determine if you should wear a mouthguard when participating in a sport.

Mouthguards Aren’t Just for Athletes

While mouthguards are most commonly used to protect against sports-related injuries, they can be used by patients of all ages for various reasons.
Some of the other non-sports-related uses for mouthguards include:

• Preventing injury and other dental problems from nighttime teeth grinding or clenching
• Treatment for mild to moderate sleep apnea
• Non-invasive treatment option for snoring

Custom Mouthguards Provide Optimum Protection

Several over-the-counter mouthguards are available for purchase at local retail or sports stores. While wearing these types of mouthguards is certainly better than not wearing anything at all, they aren’t designed to provide optimum protection. The most effective mouthguard is a custom-made mouthguard created with the help of your dentist.

Some of the benefits of a custom mouthguard include:

• Longer lasting – Custom mouthguards are often made of tougher, more durable materials, which causes them to last longer.
• Enhanced comfort – Custom mouthguards are designed to fit the unique shape of your mouth.
• Better, more secure fit – Custom mouthguards have a better fit that prevents them from slipping or falling out when in use.
• Thickness can be adjusted – Dentists can customize the mouthguard’s thickness, preventing you from wearing something too big or bulky.

Both athletes and non-athletes could benefit from a custom mouthguard. Our dental team at Pike & Valega, DDS can help you create a customized mouthguard uniquely designed to meet your needs.

Two appointments will be required for a custom mouthguard. At the first appointment, our dental team will take impressions. These impressions will be sent off to a dental lab, where your customized mouthguard will be created.

Once the lab finishes creating your mouthguard, it is sent back to our office. You will come in for a second appointment where we will make sure the mouthguard fits properly and that it is designed to provide you with maximum protection.

Contact Us To Learn More About Custom Mouthguards

Schedule an appointment with our experienced dentists to discuss whether you could benefit from a custom mouthguard. Consultations can be scheduled at our Poolesville dental office or Rockville dental office. We look forward to welcoming you to the Pike & Valega, DDS dental family and helping you protect your teeth from injury.