The American Dental Association has taken an active stance since the mid-1990s recognizing the preventive value of orofacial protectors, endorsing their use by those who engage in recreational and sports activities. While collision and contact sports, such as football and boxing, have inherent injury risks, dental injuries are also prevalent in limited- and non-contact activities and exercises, such as gymnastics and skating. The use of a properly fitted mouth guard can be the best available protective device for helping reduce the incidence and severity of sports-related dental injuries. An ideal athletic mouth guard should be properly fitted to the wearer’s mouth and accurately adapted to his or her oral structures, so as to ensure a comfortable and secure fit. Athletic mouth guards are typically made of resilient materials such as thermoplastic ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), that have high-impact energy absorption and reduce transmitted forces upon impact, which helps stop impact forces from reaching the teeth and jaws. The guards are also designed to be easily cleaned and reused several times.
Ready-made mouth guards are available widely at sporting goods stores and department stores at relatively inexpensive prices and do not require a visit to the dental office. As they are not specifically adapted to the user’s mouth, they may not provide the necessary fit and protection. Another type of mouth guard available at retail establishments such as sporting goods stores include boil and bite mouth guards, which are widely available and are generally designed for home use but may need a dental professional to adjust it in some cases. These self-adapting mouth guards are designed to soften when placed in hot water, then cooled and placed into the mouth and adjusted by bite. Custom mouth guards are fabricated in a dental office or laboratory from individual patient impressions. They provide the best fit, adaptability and efficacy, but are the most expensive option and require dental visits. For more information of which type of night guard might best suit you please contact an East Texas Dental office, and we will be glad to help.
