The Use of Mouth Guards in Dentistry

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The Use of Mouth Guards in DentistryWhen it comes to dental care treatment, many people think of filling cavities and performing root canals, but there is more to dental care than that. There are a number of restorative and preventative concerns to consider as well. If you meet with a Madison cosmetic dentist, you’ll be able to learn a lot more about these issues.

Right now, we’d like to focus on one dental issue in particular that doesn’t get that much attention: the use of mouth guards. As you’ll see, there are plenty of ways that mouth guards can protect your teeth and also serve to improve your overall dental health.

What are mouth guards?

Mouth guards are special retainers that are used to help protect the teeth from damage and harm. There are, in general, three kinds of mouth guards:

  • Stock mouth guards – These mouth guards are ready to wear and are not custom fitted to a person’s month.
  • Bite and boil mouth guards – These mouth guards are semi-custom-fitted. Made from special plastic polymers that soften with heat, the mouth guard is warmed and then bit into, forming around the patient’s teeth and tongue.
  • Custom-fitted mouth guards – These mouth guards are completely and professionally custom created and are unique to the patient’s mouth.

The above merely describes the fit of mouth guards. Our cosmetic and restorative dentists in Madison would now like to look at two primary uses for mouth guards in terms of function.

Mouth Guards for Athletics

One of the most common reasons that people need mouth guards is for athletics. By protecting the teeth (and by extension the tongue) from injury, people wearing athletic mouth guards are able to prevent serious injury and damage to various structures in the mouth.

Ideal Candidates for Athletic Mouth Guards

The best candidates for athletic mouth guards are people who play sports or regularly engage in athletic activities in which injury to the mouth may occur. This is an especially important consideration when it comes to full-contact sports such as football, boxing, rugby, and martial arts.

Mouth Guards for Teeth Grinding

Another common use for mouth guards is the treatment of teeth grinding (bruxism). Teeth grinding occurs at night in involves the biting, clenching, and gnawing of the teeth. This leads to strain and pressure on the jaw as well as gradual wear and tear on the teeth.

A mouth guard for teeth grinding helps relieve pressure on the jaw and prevents contact between the teeth to reduce the chance of potential damage.

Ideal Candidates for Bruxism Mouth Guards

The best candidates for teeth grinding mouth guards are patients who suffer from bruxism. Usually the use of a mouth guard is part of a larger form of treatment that incorporates orthodontics, restorative dentistry, stress management, and/or other therapies to address the root causes of the problem.

Treating the Effects of Teeth Grinding

In addition to the use of mouth guards for teeth grinding treatment, there are plenty of other therapies to consider at our dental care center in Madison. Tooth-colored fillings, inlays, onlays, dental crowns, and more will be considered to ensure that your smile looks great and is healthy as well.

Schedule a Consultation for Advanced Dental Care

To learn more about you many different options for dental care treatment, be sure to contact our Madison cosmetic and restorative dentistry center today. Our entire team of dental care associates looks forward to meeting you in person and helping you have the healthiest, best-looking smile possible.