Sport Guards in Scarborough and East York
Sport Guards
Dental injuries in sports remain a significant concern affecting millions of athletes annually. From high-contact sports like hockey and basketball to recreational activities, these injuries can range from tooth fractures to complete tooth loss. With treatment costs reaching up to $20,000 per injury, protecting your teeth during athletic activities isn’t just about preserving your smile – it’s a crucial investment in your long-term health and well-being.
Physical activity is essential for overall and oral health, but protecting your teeth during exercise is equally important.
The cost of treating a single knocked-out tooth can range from $5,000 to $20,000, making prevention through proper protective equipment not just a health priority, but a financial one. That’s why wearing appropriate sports guards during physical activities is crucial for maintaining both your smile and your active lifestyle.
Understanding sports guards
What are sports guards?
Sports guards, also known as mouthguards, are essential protective devices designed to safeguard your teeth and oral tissues during physical activities. There are three main types available: stock guards, boil-and-bite guards, and custom-made guards. Stock guards are ready-made, inexpensive options available over-the-counter, but offer minimal protection and comfort. Boil-and-bite guards are thermoplastic devices that can be heated and molded to your teeth at home.
Custom-made guards, while the most expensive option, provide the best protection as they’re professionally crafted by dentists using precise impressions of your teeth. These guards are typically made from materials like ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer or soft acrylic resin, with thicknesses varying from 4-6mm depending on the sport’s risk level.
Types of sport guards
Stock Guards
- Ready-made, over-the-counter devices
- Made from polyurethane or vinyl acetate
- Most affordable option but offers lowest protection
- Poor retention; requires constant teeth clenching to stay in place
Boil-and-Bite Guards (“Self-adapting”)
- Available over-the-counter
- Made from ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA)
- Heated in water and molded to teeth by biting
- Good for growing athletes but loses shape over time
Custom-Made Guards
- Created in dental laboratory from professional impressions
- Made from thermoplastic material using vacuum forming
- Provides best fit, protection, and durability
- Most expensive but offers superior comfort and retention
- Recommended by the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP)
Materials used in construction
Sports guards can be manufactured using several FDA-approved materials designed to effectively absorb and distribute impact forces. The most commonly used materials include:
- EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) copolymer
- Soft acrylic resin
- Polyvinyl chloride
- Elastomers
Modern sports guards often feature a dual-layered design, combining a rigid outer shell made of styrolbutadiene copolymerisate with a softer inner layer of ethylene copolymer and vinyl acetate. This sophisticated combination of materials creates an optimal protective device where the hard outer layer provides durability while the soft inner layer offers superior shock absorption, effectively reducing the force transferred to your teeth during impact.
Benefits of sports guards
1. Prevention of tooth damage and loss
Sports guards play a crucial role in protecting your oral health during athletic activities. These protective devices act as a powerful buffer that helps prevent nearly 200,000 oral injuries each year in high school and college sports alone. They work by cushioning direct blows to the jaw and redistributing impact forces across all teeth, rather than concentrating them in one area.
Sports guards significantly reduce the risk of serious dental injuries including tooth fractures, dislocations, soft tissue cuts, and complete tooth loss. They protect not only your teeth but also keep soft tissues like lips, cheeks, and tongue away from your teeth during impact, preventing lacerations and bruising. For athletes with braces or other dental work, sports guards provide an additional layer of protection, making them an essential piece of protective equipment for maintaining your dental health during sports activities.
2. Protection against jaw injuries
Sports guards are essential in preventing jaw-related injuries by acting as a protective buffer between your upper and lower jaw. They distribute impact forces evenly across your teeth and create a crucial gap between your jaw joint and skull, significantly reducing the risk of fractures and joint injuries.
By providing this protective cushioning effect, sports guards help prevent both immediate traumatic injuries like fractures and long-term problems with your jaw joint, making them an invaluable piece of protective equipment for athletes.
3. Reduction of concussion risk
Sports guards may help reduce the risk of concussion by creating a protective space between the jaw joint and skull base. When properly fitted, they can absorb and redistribute the force of impacts to the jaw. While more research is being conducted, studies suggest that this cushioning effect could help minimize the transfer of impact forces to the brain, making sports guards an important piece of protective equipment for athletes participating in contact and high-impact sports.
Who needs a sports guard?
High-impact sports participants
Athletes in over 20 high-impact and contact sports need to wear mouth guards for protection during both practice and competition. Studies show that certain sports carry surprising risks – basketball players, for example, face a fivefold increase in dental trauma compared to football players.
Key sports requiring mouth guards:
- High-contact sports: Boxing, Football, Hockey, Rugby
- Court sports: Basketball, Soccer, Field Hockey
- Individual sports: Gymnastics, Skateboarding, Wrestling
Age considerations
While sports injuries can occur at any age, the need for mouth guards becomes increasingly important as children get older and participate in more competitive sports.
- Early Years – Young children in recreational sports face lower risks of dental injury due to less competitive play.
- High School Level – Protection becomes crucial as competition intensifies and physical contact increases. Mouth guards are strongly recommended for most sports.
- College Level – The highest level of protection is essential due to maximum competitive intensity and increased risk of dental injuries. Mouth guards are often mandatory for many sports at this level.
Custom-made vs. over-the-counter guards
Comfort and fit comparison
Custom-made guards provide superior comfort and fit since they’re created from precise dental impressions of your mouth. They’re less bulky, allow easier breathing and speaking, and stay securely in place during activity. In contrast, over-the-counter guards often feel loose, bulky, and may require constant biting to keep them in place, which can interfere with communication and breathing during play.
While custom guards are more expensive, their precise fit makes athletes more likely to wear them consistently, providing better long-term protection.
Professional fitting process
Custom-Made Guards
- Created from professional dental impressions
- Made in dental lab with premium materials
- Perfect fit for your unique teeth
- Custom thickness for your sport
- Long-lasting durability
Over-the-Counter Guards
- Basic, pre-made designs
- Standard “one-size-fits-most”
- Limited adjustment options
- Often needs frequent replacement
- Lower initial cost
The Fitting Process
- Dental consultation
- Taking mouth impressions
- Lab creation
- Professional adjustments
- Final comfort check
Durability differences
Custom-Made Guards | Over-the-Counter Guards |
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Care and maintenance
Cleaning procedures
Keep your sports guard clean through regular maintenance. For daily care, rinse it thoroughly before and after each use with cool water. For deeper cleaning, use a toothbrush with toothpaste or wash it in cool, soapy water, followed by a complete rinse. Avoid using hot water as it can warp the material. Make it a habit to bring your guard to regular dental checkups for professional cleaning and evaluation, ensuring optimal hygiene and longevity.
Storage recommendations
Proper storage is crucial for maintaining your sports guard’s shape and cleanliness. Store it in a sturdy, ventilated container that allows air circulation to prevent moisture buildup and bacterial growth. Keep the container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources, as these can distort the guard’s shape. Never leave it in hot cars or wrapped in a wet towel, and ensure it’s stored safely away from pets who might damage it.
When to replace
Timing for sports guard replacement varies depending on use and user. Children and teens need more frequent replacements, typically every six months to a year, as their mouths continue growing and changing.
Adult guards typically last longer but should still be evaluated regularly. Heavy use, such as daily practices and games, will require more frequent replacement than occasional use. Consider replacement at the start of each new sports season for optimal protection.
Signs of wear and damage
Regular inspection of your sports guard is essential for maintaining its protective qualities. Watch for warning signs such as distorted shape, holes, tears, or thinning areas. If the guard becomes loose, uncomfortable, or doesn’t fit properly, it’s time for a replacement.
Pay attention to teeth marks from excessive chewing, discoloration, or brittleness. If you experience any difficulty breathing or speaking while wearing it, consult your dentist as these could indicate damage or poor fit requiring immediate replacement.