Sports Mouth Guards in San Tan Valley, AZ

As dentists, we are determined to make sure your mouth and teeth are well protected during sports activities, no matter what your passion is. To do this, we offer many different types of mouth guards, depending on the types of activities in which you are involved. There are some mouth guards for low-impact sports and others for high-impact sports. Mouth guards not only protect your mouth and teeth, but also have other purposes. Mouth guards will help decrease the impact if you get hit in the jaw. They have also been shown to increase an athlete's performance. Many people clench their teeth while playing, which can give them temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ). Clenching your jaw the whole time can be quite exhausting. Mouth guards help to relax your jaw, allowing you to completely focus on the game!

• Different guards for low-impact and high-impact sports
• Cushions impact to the jaw as well as the teeth
• Helps relax a clenched jaw during play
• Custom fit means it stays in and you can still talk
• Available for children and adults

The obvious benefit is protecting teeth from being chipped, loosened or knocked out entirely. A single knocked-out front tooth commits someone to replacement work for the rest of their life, and that starts young if the injury happens in school sports. Less obviously, a guard cushions impact transmitted through the jaw, which is why it matters in contact sports where blows to the chin are common. It also protects the soft tissues — many sporting injuries involve teeth cutting into the lip, cheek or tongue. The reason a custom guard is worth it over a boil-and-bite version comes down to whether it gets worn. A guard that fits well stays in place, lets you breathe and speak, and does not need adjusting every few minutes. One that does not fit gets pushed out and ends up in a gym bag.

Tell us what sport you play and at what level. A guard for a recreational league differs from one for a full-contact sport — thickness and coverage are matched to the impact you are likely to take. We take an impression or scan of your teeth, and the guard is made to fit your arch precisely. For children and teenagers, remember that a guard fitted while teeth are still coming in will need replacing as the mouth changes; bring it to checkups so we can assess the fit. Rinse it before and after use, brush it occasionally with a toothbrush, and store it in a ventilated case. Keep it out of hot cars — heat will warp it permanently, and a warped guard neither fits nor protects.