We Offer Different Types of Mouthguards: Which One Is Right for You?

You’ve probably seen a mouthguard at some point in life. This may be in the football oval, basketball court, or perhaps during a sleepover when a friend popped one in before bedtime. Mouthguards in Flinders, Victoria, are essential to oral health. Flinders Dental Practice provides customised mouthguards to protect your smile from injuries and teeth-grinding damage. Please schedule an appointment with our team to discover the different mouthguards available in our office.

What are mouthguards?

Do you play sports, whether amateur or professional? Do you grind and clench your teeth? If yes, you can benefit from a mouthguard. This retainer-like appliance is worn in the mouth to protect your teeth and gums from injuries.

There are several mouthguards available in the market. These include:

  • Stock mouthguards: Over-the-counter mouthguards are the cheapest. They are typically pre-formed and ready to wear straight out of the package, requiring no customisation. Since they are generic, they rarely fit comfortably or securely in the mouth. Because of a poor fit, generic mouthguards can make it difficult to breathe or speak and offer the least protection.
  • Boil and bite mouthguards: Mouth-formed mouthguards are first placed in boiling water to soften the material. Once cooled slightly, you bite down on the softened guard. The material molds to your teeth and sets into shape as it cools, resulting in a better fit. While better than generic options, they don’t match the precision and comfort of customised mouthguards.
  • Customised mouthguards: Personalised mouthguards are the type available at our dental practice. These appliances are fabricated after taking impressions of your bite. They are durable and fit comfortably, providing solid protection for sports or nighttime teeth grinding.

What are the mouthguard options available at our office?

While cleanings and exams are essential for oral health, sometimes more is needed to keep teeth and gums healthy. Not everyone requires a mouthguard, but it is essential for those who do.

Here are the types of mouthguards available at our practice:

  • Sports guards: Is your favorite game football or basketball? Maybe it’s neither, and you prefer skiing or cycling. No matter your sports, you need a mouthguard to protect your teeth, gums, jaws, and other oral structures from sports injuries. Both children and adults should wear mouthguards when participating in contact and high-risk sports. A sportsguard protects your smile from broken teeth, tooth avulsion, broken jaws, soft tissue lacerations, and other injuries.
  • Bruxism/TMJ mouthguards: Do you chronically grind your teeth? It’s essential to start treatment early. Why? The long-term effects of chronic teeth grinding (bruxism) include enamel erosion and broken teeth. A nightguard creates a barrier between upper and lower teeth, which protects your teeth from damage and relieves TMJ pain.
  • Sleep apnea mouthguards: Your treatment for sleep apnea doesn’t have to involve CPAP therapy or surgery. We offer oral appliance therapy, which uses a customised retainer-like device to treat OSA. A sleep apnea nightguard repositions the lower jaw, keeping the airway open when sleeping. Depending on your oral needs, they are also made to suppress the tongue to keep the airway unobstructed.

Do you need a mouthguard?

Whether you need a sports guard or nightguard, trust Flinders Dental Practice for high-quality mouthguards, and we’ll work with you to determine the best mouthguard for your needs. Call (03) 5989-1129 to speak to our team.