All about sports guards
Sports guards are a smart investment for anyone playing activities or sports involving falls, body contact, or flying equipment. Any sports guard is better than none, but nothing beats a guard made by your dental team and customized to fit your mouth perfectly.
What are your options?
Stock Sports Guards
These come pre formed and ready to wear. They are available at most sporting goods stores. However, they often do not fit well, feel bulky, and can make breathing or talking difficult. Athletes sometimes get distracted by them and may remove or adjust them during play.
Boil and Bite Sports Guards
These come as kits with instructions. You boil the guard in water, then bite into it to shape it to your teeth. While offering a better fit than stock guards, they may still be uncomfortable or bulky. If your boil and bite guard feels wrong or hinders breathing or talking, consider a custom guard.
Custom Made Mouth Guards
Our favorite choice! A custom sports guard made by your Dental Office in Vancouver offers the best protection and comfort. If it does not feel right, we can make adjustments to ensure a perfect fit.
The cost of a custom sports guard in Vancouver
Out of pocket costs vary. With typical insurance, custom mouth guards cost about $100 to $300 or more. Without insurance, expect $150 to $350 and up.
- The type of material used in your guard
- Whether you have ongoing orthodontic treatment
Why the difference?
No dental practice can provide an exact price over the phone because your needs are unique. An exam with a dentist is necessary to review your options and get an accurate quote. We can provide a quote for insurance submission so you know your out of pocket costs before deciding.
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. Mouth guards and night guards are both fitted devices but serve different purposes. Sports guards protect from impact, while night guards protect your bite and jaw position.
They are different names for the same device: a protector worn over teeth to prevent or reduce injury.
Ideally, replace your guard each sports season. Wear and tear, chewing habits, or shifting teeth can affect fit and protection. Many athletes get new guards at their routine six month checkup.
A good guard feels comfortable, allows easy breathing and talking. If you find yourself fiddling with it or removing it during games, it may not fit correctly.
Any sport with risk of falls, player contact, or flying objects. Examples include football, hockey, lacrosse, baseball, soccer, water polo, boxing, skateboarding, wrestling, mountain biking, gymnastics, and more.
Absolutely. Wearing a sports guard is even more important with braces. It protects your teeth and braces, as well as the inside of your lips and cheeks.
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