One of the services your dentist can provide, other than keeping your teeth clean and healthy, is a customized protective mouth guard. There are typically two types of mouth guard patients may need, but both protect the teeth from the friction and stress that can lead to cracks, fractures, and worn-down enamel.
Dr. Jack Haney can provide a custom-made mouth guard to protect your teeth from friction and injury. Call 865-693-6886 or visit our dental office to learn more about Knoxville mouth guards.
Sports Guards and Night Guards
Mouth guards are most commonly needed to protect the teeth during athletic activities and to prevent teeth grinding at night (bruxism). Virtually all sports that involve running, balls, or contact have the potential for accidents that may injure the mouth or teeth. All it takes is an elbow to the face or a hard fall while running, and your child may end up with a loosened or knocked-out tooth. A sports guard will ensure the teeth are protected from outside forces and won’t clack together, should he or she take a fall on the field.
Bruxism is a common dental condition in which patients grind their teeth together or clench the jaw shut while they are unconscious at night. Doctors aren’t sure exactly what causes bruxism, but it may be related to stress, TMJ disorder, bite misalignment, or neurological factors. Regardless of the cause, bruxism wreaks havoc on your teeth and can lead to stress fractures and worn-down enamel. A night guard can keep your teeth from being damaged by the impulse to grind and clench when worn at night.
Whey Are Dentist-Provided Mouth Guards Better?
You have probably seen mouth guards for sale at your local drug store or sporting goods stores, but a customized mouth guard provides a greater level of protection than store-bought products. Why? For one, the products you buy yourself tend to be one-size-fits-all. Not all mouths are the same size, of course, and a guard that fits better is a guard that will be more comfortable and efficient.
If the mouth guard is for a child playing sports, he or she will be more likely to keep the guard in his or her mouth and use it every time if it fits comfortably and does not feel too big and bulky. The same goes for adults who require comfort in order to sleep well at night.
Some mouth guards allow for a certain amount of customization, as they are made of boil-and-bite thermoplastic. These are certainly better than guards with no customization, but not nearly as efficient as the Knoxville mouth guards Dr. Haney can provide. Boil-and-bite products are a good idea, but they allow too much room for user error. Bite down too hard, and there may not be enough material present to protect the teeth from each other. Bite down too soft, and the mouth guard will feel too big and uncomfortable.
Dentist-provided mouth guards are made to fit comfortably in the mouth and provide just the right amount of cushioning between the teeth. We do a professional bite impression to make sure the dimensions of your teeth are captured accurately, and use a professional dental laboratory to craft a mouth guard that fits you properly.
