TYPES OF MOUTHGUARDS

The best way to prevent injury to the teeth and mouth is through the use of an athletic mouthguard during games, activities and practices. There are four basic types of mouthguards available today:

1. Stock mouthguard – this is a mouthguard that is sold in stores and comes in a limited selection of sizes. There is no provision made to customize the fit to the wearer. These guards provide the least amount of protection due to the poor fit and the likelihood that the athlete will not wear the mouthguard properly.
   

2. "Boil and Bite" mouthguard – a mouthguard that is made of a thermoplastic material which is softened in hot water, placed in the mouth, and formed to try to fit the teeth and gums. These devices provide a slightly better fit than the stock guards, but there is insufficient protection for the mouth due to the deformation of the material during the "boil and bite" process. The "fitting" procedure thins out the material, decreasing the protection available to the wearer, sometimes leaving only 5 to 10% of the original thickness in place.
   

3. Custom Vacuum-Formed mouthguard – this type of mouthguard is made by your dentist and provides excellent protection for most sports activities. The dentist makes a mold of your teeth and gums, using this mold to create a protective guard that fits your mouth exactly. This type of mouthguard will remain securely in place during speaking, breathing, or a blow to the face. These mouthguards are much more comfortable to wear, increasing the likelihood that it will be worn routinely.
   

4. Custom Pressure-Formed mouthguard – this is the best protection available to athletes today. The dentist makes molds of your teeth and [generally] sends the models to a dental laboratory. The lab uses a machine that uses high pressure and heat to form a multi-layer mouthguard using materials that provide both protection and comfort to the wearer. While there are several layers of protective material, the mouthguard remains thin enough to be comfortable to wear as well as allowing ease of speaking. This type of mouthguard is the most expensive, but if you participate in sports that involve repeated contact to the head [hockey, boxing, martial arts] you should have a pressure-formed mouthguard.

In order to provide proper protection for the wearer, all athletes should wear a mouthguard of either the vacuum-formed or pressure-formed type.

You should speak to your dentist to determine which mouthguard type is best for you.