Do you grind your teeth at night? Or, does one of your kids play a contact sport such as football or hockey? Both of these scenarios calls for a quality mouthguard. But when would you need a custom mouthguard as opposed to an over-the-counter plastic tray, or the boil-and-bite variety? Keep reading to discover the primary uses of store-bought versus custom mouthguards.
Custom Mouthguards: Molded By Your Dental Professional
Using a thermoplastic material, custom mouthguards are prescribed and crafted by your dental professional and are shaped based on a highly detailed mold taken of your teeth and mouth.
These mouthguards are personalized -- and your dentist can adjust its thickness depending on your severity of teeth grinding and clenching. A custom mouthguard is designed to align perfectly with your teeth (without any uncomfortable bulk) and requires no adjustments after your dental professional fits it to your mouth structure. Custom mouthguards can be molded for either sports or for nighttime teeth grinding, and they’re made differently based on the intended use.
A mouthguard molded by your dentist can also help alleviate jaw strain and produce better jaw muscle positioning to prevent long-term teeth clenching and grinding during the daytime.
Typically, mouthguards are fitted for your upper teeth. However, a custom mouthguard can also be fitted for the bottom set of teeth if your dentist recommends it. Unlike over-the-counter mouthguards, custom ones provide the most complete protection for your mouth because they are specifically created to exactly match your teeth.
Elbows, pucks and physical sports can destroy your smile in a second. Nighttime teeth grinding can also erode beautiful teeth -- so it’s important to consider a custom mouthguard when properly caring for your mouth.
Store-Bought Mouthguards: Boil-And-Bite or One-Size Plastic Trays
Store-bought mouthguards, unlike custom-designed ones, can be ill-fitting and less able to withstand blunt-force mouth injuries from sports or damage from grinding your teeth. Although they are less costly and easier to obtain, over-the-counter guards simply aren’t recommended for heavy-duty dental protection and long-term mouth care.
Contact Dr. Bleeker today to learn more about getting fitted for a custom mouthguard.