Sports Mouthguard

Sports Mouthguard in Newburgh, IN

At Newburgh Family Dental, we provide custom-fitted sports mouthguards in Newburgh, IN to protect athletes of all ages from dental injuries. A mouthguard is a flexible appliance worn during athletic and recreational activities to shield your teeth, jaw, and soft tissue from trauma. Furthermore, the dental profession unanimously supports the use of mouthguards across a wide range of sports. Because dental injuries can be costly and painful to treat, prevention is always the best approach.

Why Should You Wear a Sports Mouthguard?

A properly fitted sports mouthguard can prevent a wide range of serious injuries. Specifically, it helps protect against:

• Broken or knocked-out teeth
• Jaw fractures
• Lip and cheek lacerations
• Neck injuries
• Cerebral hemorrhage
• Concussions

A mouthguard works by cushioning impact and helping to prevent situations where the lower jaw gets jammed into the upper jaw. In addition, mouthguards move soft tissue away from the teeth, reducing the risk of lacerations and bruising. This is especially important for patients who wear orthodontic appliances such as braces.

Which Sports Require a Mouthguard?

Any sport with a significant chance of contact with other players or hard surfaces warrants a mouthguard. Therefore, we strongly recommend mouthguards for players who participate in:

• Football, basketball, and baseball
• Soccer, lacrosse, and rugby
• Wrestling and martial arts
• Softball and hockey
• Recreational activities such as skateboarding, bicycling, and in-line skating

In short, if there is any risk of impact to the face or mouth, a mouthguard should be worn.

Why Don't More Kids Wear Mouthguards?

Many parents are unaware of the level of contact and potential for serious dental injury involved in the sports their children play. Furthermore, not all schools consistently enforce mouthguard use for contact sports. Cost can also be a factor, although mouthguards are available at a range of price points. As a result, many young athletes go unprotected. At Newburgh Family Dental, we want to help change that by making custom mouthguards accessible and affordable for every family.

Types of Sports Mouthguards

Not all mouthguards offer the same level of protection. Consequently, it is important to understand your options before choosing one for yourself or your child.

Stock Mouthguards

Stock mouthguards are ready-made and available at most sporting goods stores. They are the least expensive option but also offer the least protection. Because they cannot be adjusted to fit your mouth, they may interfere with breathing and speaking. For this reason, stock mouthguards are not considered an acceptable protective device by most dental professionals.

Boil-and-Bite Mouthguards

Boil-and-bite mouthguards are softened in hot water and then shaped around the teeth using finger, tongue, and biting pressure. While they offer a better fit than stock mouthguards, they still do not provide the same level of protection as a custom-made guard. Moreover, they can lose their shape over time with repeated use.

Custom-Made Mouthguards

A custom-made mouthguard fabricated by Dr. Perkins is by far the best option available. Because it is made from a precise cast of your teeth, it fits comfortably and securely — and stays in place during activity. Furthermore, research shows that custom mouthguards provide more than triple the protection of a stock mouthguard. Therefore, if you are serious about protecting your smile, a custom sports mouthguard is the clear choice.