All About Sports Guards: Essential Protection for Active Lifestyles
Sports guards go beyond simply shielding your teeth. They provide comprehensive protection for braces and fixed dental appliances, like bridges and implants, while also safeguarding the soft tissues inside your mouth—such as your cheeks and lips—from potential injuries caused by braces in case of an accident. A sports guard is a smart investment for anyone involved in activities with a risk of falls, body contact, or flying equipment.
While any sports guard is better than none, a custom-made guard by your dental team offers the highest level of protection. These guards are uniquely tailored to your mouth’s structure, ensuring a comfortable fit and optimal defence for your teeth and dental work. Whether you’re on the field, court, or track, a personalized sports guard is your best ally for a safer, healthier smile.
Sports Guard Options
Stock Sports Guards
Pre-formed and available at sporting goods stores, these guards often fit poorly, feel bulky, and can make it hard to breathe or talk, leading athletes to remove or adjust them during play.
Boil & Bite Sports Guards
These guards mould to your teeth after boiling and biting into them, offering a better fit than stock guards but can still be bulky or uncomfortable; if this is the case, a custom guard may be better.
Custom-Made Mouth Guards
Our top choice, custom-made guards are crafted specifically for your mouth, providing superior comfort and protection, with adjustments available to ensure the perfect fit.
The Cost and Benefits of a Custom Sports Guard in Calgary
A custom sports guard provides crucial protection for teeth, braces, and other dental work, reducing the risk of oral injuries that can occur during sports. Out-of-pocket costs for a custom guard typically range from $100 to $300+ with insurance and $150 to $350 or more without coverage.
So, why the price range? The cost depends on factors such as the materials used, which can impact durability and comfort, and whether orthodontic adjustments are needed to ensure the best fit. These custom guards provide enhanced comfort, making them easier to wear for longer periods, which can also prevent issues like jaw strain or soft tissue injuries.
As each patient’s needs are unique, an in-person consultation with a dentist is essential for an accurate quote and personalized advice. If you have dental insurance, we’re happy to provide a quote for submission, allowing you to confirm any out-of-pocket expenses and make a well-informed decision about protecting your smile.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Although both mouthguards and nightguards fit snugly over your teeth, they serve different purposes. Sports guards protect your mouth from impacts during physical activities, while nightguards are designed to support your bite and align your jaw while you sleep.
These terms all refer to the same thing: a device worn over your teeth to protect them from injury or minimize the severity of an impact.
Sports guards should ideally be replaced every sports season. They wear down over time, especially if chewed on, and shifting teeth in adolescents can also impact fit. Many athletes opt to get a new guard during their regular 6-month dental checkup.
A well-fitting sports guard should feel comfortable and allow easy breathing and talking. If you find yourself adjusting or removing it frequently, it might not be the right fit.
Sports guards are recommended for any activity involving falls, player contact, or potential impact from equipment, such as football, hockey, lacrosse, baseball, soccer, field hockey, water polo, cricket, ringette, curling, skateboarding, gymnastics, mountain biking, wrestling, and boxing.
Yes, and it’s highly recommended! A sports guard not only protects your teeth but also shields your braces and the inside of your lips and cheeks from potential injuries.
