Sportsguards

Dr. Hooper recommends the use of a sports mouthguard, a flexible plastic appliance that is worn during athletic and recreational activities, to help protect teeth from trauma.

What activities require Sports Mouthguards?

Sportsguards should be worn any time there is a strong chance for contact with other participants or hard surfaces.

Athletes who participate in basketball, baseball, football, hockey, wrestling, soccer, martial arts, as well as recreational sports such as skateboarding and bicycling, should wear mouthguards while engaged in these activities.
Sports mouthguards are a "must" for patients that wear orthodontic appliances.

Sports Injury Prevention

A mouthguard helps move soft tissue in the oral cavity away from the teeth, preventing bruising and laceration of the lips and cheeks in the event of hard contact.

Serious injuries such as broken teeth, jaw fractures, and neck injuries can occur with sports trauma incidents in which the lower jaw gets jammed into the upper jaw. A mouthguard, along with other protective headgear, can help prevent this type of injury.

Types of Mouthguards: It is important that a mouthguard be designed to fit snugly, so as not to get knocked out of the mouth when it is needed the most.

Over-the-Counter Mouthguards.

Standard stock, non-fitted mouthguards are never recommended.
"Boil and bite" mouthguards are warmed in hot water and fitted in the mouth by pressing softened acrylic to mold it to the teeth. It can be very difficult to achieve a proper fit with these products.

Custom-fitted Mouthguards. Dr. Hooper designs these with our dental laboratory to fit your mouth using cast models of your teeth. Because they are custom, it is possible to achieve a much better fit than over-the-counter types, offering the greatest level of protection.

Contact us to schedule a short visit that can go a long way in protecting your smile!