A mouthguard is a great way to protect your teeth, gums, and oral tissues if you play sports. However, not all mouthguards are the same. If you play a sport that carries the possibility of a “high speed collision” with another player, a mouthguard is important. It can mean the difference between keeping all of your permanent teeth, or needing dental implants to replace missing teeth! Dr. Valderrama can build you a custom mouthguard that will protect your teeth and keep you safe and sound on the playing field.

Why You Might Need a Mouthguard

Accidents happen in sports all the time. Football and soccer players are constantly bumping into each other and can suffer a blow to the face. Basketball players can “catch an elbow” from someone else on a rebound.

A blow to the face can cause damage to the enamel on the teeth, crack a tooth, or even dislodge it completely. There is also a good chance that your teeth will do some damage to your tongue or the insides of your cheek during a collision. Cuts inside the mouth can even require stitches if they are deep enough.

A mouthguard fits over your teeth and provides protection during sports. It protects the teeth, tongue, and cheeks. They’re made of materials that act as a buffer between your teeth and the rest of the oral structures in your mouth.

Dr. Valderrama can even build mouthguards that will fit over your braces, so you can still play your favorite sports while undergoing orthodontic treatment!

Types of Mouthguards

There are basically three types of mouthguards when it comes to protecting the teeth and/or braces during sports. There are cheap “boil-and-bite” mouthguards that can be purchased over the counter at any drug store. Another type is the one-size-fits-all stock mouthguard that some companies sell. The best mouthguard for sports, however, is the type of custom mouthguard that Dr. Valderrama can create for you.

Why You Should Get a Custom Mouthguard

Don’t just take Dr. Valderrama’s word for when it comes to the quality of custom-made mouthguards. Ask your insurance company!

If you use a cheaper type of mouthguard that is not custom made, and then suffer an accident that damages your braces, teeth, or tongue, your insurance company very likely won’t pay for emergency treatment. The insurance companies view it as if you assumed the risk for yourself by wearing a cheap mouthguard that isn’t a perfect fit for your teeth or braces.

This is why it’s a very good idea to have Dr. Valderrama create a custom mouthguard for you. Only professionally crafted mouthguards created by dental professionals or orthodontists are accepted by most insurance companies in case of an accident. (And they’re not that much more expensive than the over-the-counter ones anyway.)

How a Custom Mouthguard is Created

At Valderrama Orthodontics, we digitally scan your teeth in an initial appointment. This digital scan will be an exact match for your teeth and/or braces. The scan is 3-D printed and then used to fashion a mouthguard that fits you perfectly. You’ll then get to try on the mouthguard for the first time at a followup appointment. 

One thing to note is that if you have braces on both the upper and lower arches in your mouth, you will probably need a “double decker” mouthguard to offer full protection.

Call Us for a Custom Mouthguard

Call our office at 321-425-5050 to set an appointment to have your custom mouthguard created by us! We also offer many additional orthodontic treatments for our patients, from braces to Invisalign, and more.