{"id":139,"date":"2018-08-15T08:27:36","date_gmt":"2018-08-15T08:27:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.darbycreekdental.com\/blog\/?p=139"},"modified":"2018-08-15T08:27:36","modified_gmt":"2018-08-15T08:27:36","slug":"dentist-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.darbycreekdental.com\/blog\/dentist-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Dentist Compares Custom-Fitted and Over-the-Counter Sports Guards"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-140\" src=\"https:\/\/www.darbycreekdental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/AdobeStock_85762301-300x166.jpeg\" alt=\"football players in a tackle\" width=\"300\" height=\"166\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.darbycreekdental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/AdobeStock_85762301-300x166.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.darbycreekdental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/AdobeStock_85762301-768x424.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.darbycreekdental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/AdobeStock_85762301-1024x565.jpeg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Whether you\u2019re gearing up for your child\u2019s new sport or your own season opener, there\u2019s one piece of equipment you shouldn\u2019t forget: a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.darbycreekdental.com\/preventive-dentistry.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mouthguard\/sports guard<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It doesn\u2019t matter what you call it &#8212; this small device can provide significant protection against the dental injuries that cause pain and can end up costing you a lot of money on dental care.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are three types of sports guards:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An over-the-counter, one-size-fits-all guard<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A \u201cboil and bite\u201d guard from the pharmacy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A custom-fitted sports guard you get from your dentist<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But which one of these is best for your or your child\u2019s smile? Keep reading to find the answer. Spoiler alert: it\u2019s option C. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About Sports Guards<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bulk of dental emergencies (broken teeth, busted lips, knocked out teeth) are caused by contact sports. Wearing a mouthguard doesn\u2019t take much preparation and it can provide a significant amount of protection, no matter your preferred sport. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you are evaluating your options, remember that achieving a proper fit is crucial for a mouthguard\u2019s effectiveness. One-size-fits-all equipment rarely actually fits \u201call\u201d &#8212; and that can result in a guard that slips out when you need it most, or, worse, never gets worn at all. Boil and bite options are a little better, but they still do not provide as much protection as a customized sports guard can. In fact, research even shows that this type of equipment can reduce the risk of concussion in contact sports. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Use It Properly<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your dentist can create a customized mouthguard based on the specific dimensions of your teeth and jaw bone. Given this extreme customization, the mouthguard is sure to fit perfectly &#8212; so you probably won\u2019t notice it while you are on the field, court, or mat. Make sure to wear the equipment during every practice and game or match for maximum protection! Once you are finished, take the sports guard out and clean it to prevent bacterial buildup. Store the equipment in its hard case when you are not using it to prevent damage or loss. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When to Replace a Sports Guard<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With proper care, your customized mouthguard can typically last for about a season, or 6 months. Replacement is important to ensure that it continues to fit properly and comfortably. As soon as you notice the device starting to lose its fit or if it gets worn down, contact your dentist ASAP for a replacement. Keeping the guard in good shape is important for protecting your smile! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting a sports guard doesn\u2019t take any time at all &#8212; just one appointment to your dentist\u2019s office, and it can help keep your smile healthy, complete, and whole for a lifetime. That\u2019s worth the investment! <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meet the Practice<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darby Creek Dental offers comprehensive dentistry services from the comfort of their state-of-the-art office. With all treatment plans firmly based on prevention, this team works to keep patients smiling for a lifetime! To learn more about sports guards or to have one created for you or your favorite athlete, you are invited to <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.darbycreekdental.com\/request-an-appointment.html\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">request an appointment<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> today. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you\u2019re gearing up for your child\u2019s new sport or your own season opener, there\u2019s one piece of equipment you shouldn\u2019t forget: a mouthguard\/sports guard. It doesn\u2019t matter what you call it &#8212; this small device can provide significant protection against the dental injuries that cause pain and can end up costing you a lot [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Dentist Compares Custom-Fitted and Over-the-Counter Sports Guards<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Considering in investing in a custom-fitted mouthguard? 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