Mouth Guards & Night Guards

Mouth guards and night guards are 2 different kinds of coverings to be worn over the teeth used for different purposes. The ultimate purpose of either appliance is to protect your teeth from the many forms of trauma, ensuring your long lasting beautiful smile.

Mouth guards are commonly worn in contact sports and are becoming more and more popular throughout sports in general. These appliances are worn to protect the teeth and oral structures from often times unpredictable, yet sometimes preventable injury.

Night guards are used to help minimize the effects on teeth and oral structures from parafunctional habits such as grinding, clenching, and bruxism. These appliances protect the teeth from strong vertical and horizontal forces, which can cause teeth to crack, break or prematurely wear over time.

Available options for these different types of guards include stock, boil and bite or custom fitted. Stock mouth guards or night guards are pre-formed and ready to use, however they don't offer the best fit, comfort or protection. Boil and bite alternatives are heated up, placed in the mouth and then formed around the teeth with finger, tongue and bite pressure. They fit better than the stock option, yet there is still a far superior alternative. Custom fitted guards are individualized in a dental office, sometimes in collaboration with a dental laboratory. An impression of your teeth is made to allow for making a model, which accurately replicates the characteristics of your specific teeth. Then a molding made of special dental materials is created over the model of your teeth to create the custom fitted mouth guard or night guard. Although the time and associated cost is slightly more for a custom fitted guard, it provides the absolute best fit, comfort and protection by far. These guards are generally made to fit over or cover the upper teeth, however, certain cases require necessary modifications.

You will receive care instructions at the conclusion of your treatment. Good oral hygiene practices, a proper diet and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your new Mouth or Night Guard.

If you have any questions or concerns about Mouth or Night Guards, please don't hesitate to discuss them with your Dentist in the office or call Dental Arts of Boynton Beach at (561) 767-9595.