There are different types of occlusal guards that can be made to protect the teeth and also the muscles related to the jaw and the temporomandibular joint.
Night Guards:
A night guard is a custom made tray made with acrylic that is formed to fit your individual bite. This tray prevents the teeth from coming into contact with each other as you sleep which can cause damage to your natural teeth, your crowns/dentures/bridges/veneers and can also help with pain that may be associated with clenching/grinding in the head/neck and temporomandibular joint.
A night guard. since it holds your teeth in the same positioning at night, also acts as a splint which can help keep your teeth from shifting and can distribute the natural force you put on your teeth evenly. We make our custom night guards with the help of an outside laboratory, Glidewell Dental Laboratory, and take impressions and/or digital scans of your teeth to ensure a proper fit.
Sports Guards:
A custom sports guard is a piece of protective gear that helps to protect the teeth, and jaw from impact and injury during sports activities. These sports guards cushion blows that could cause injury. They can reduce the rate of concussion as well as dental and mandibular injuries. A non-custom sports guard without any individual fitting provides only minimal protection. Custom sports guards are designed to address individual needs. Age, type of sports activity, level of competition, previous dental injury, orthodontics, erupting teeth, currently missing teeth are all important considerations that influence the design of the sports guard. A sports guard should be worn at all times during sports activities, including games as well as practice. Again, we make our custom sports guards with the help of an outside laboratory and take impressions and/or digital scans of your teeth to ensure a proper fit.
PlaySafe Sports Mouthguards, which we would make in conjunction with Glidewell Dental Laboratory, provide superior fit and retention compared to boil-and-bite mouthguards. Available in six levels of protection, the mouthguards range from one to three layers of laminated ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) material, with a final occlusal thickness between 3 mm and 5 mm. PlaySafe Sports Mouthguards can be customized with stickers and team logos, and are available in a variety of colors to fit the personality of every star athlete!
