Why Get a Custom-Made Mouthguard Instead of a Store-Bought One?

If you’re dealing with teeth grinding or contact sports, your dentist might recommend that you wear a mouthguard. After all, this appliance would protect your teeth from all sorts of damage! That said, you might think a store-bought one would be an ok choice. However, you’d be much better off with a custom-made mouthguard from your local dental practice. This kind has advantages you can’t find from varieties sold at stores. To prove it, here are four unique benefits of custom mouthguards.

They Have Exact Fits

Teeth vary from one person to another. In contrast, though, store-bought mouthguards take a one-size-fits-all approach. As a result, these models usually have poor retention.

Custom mouthguards, thankfully, avoid this problem. A dentist makes each one fit a specific patient’s teeth. Doing so ensures the device is secure, meaning you don’t have to keep your mouth shut to retain it. From there, you can use it safely, whether you’re going to sleep or playing a rough-and-tumble sport.

They’re More Comfortable

Due to being personally made by dentists, custom-fit mouthguards are more comfortable than the alternatives. In fact, this comfort makes wearing the appliance downright enjoyable.

In some cases, dental offices and patients can request specific cuts for their mouthguards. The result is the item is less likely to trigger your gag reflexes and will avoid sensitive areas in the dentition.

Even better, the easy fit means patients are more likely to keep the appliance in when needed. Their doing so, in turn, makes the mouthguard more useful.

They’re More Protective

Of course, the entire point of wearing a mouthguard is to protect your teeth, jaw, and other oral structures. They’ll keep your smile safe from bruxism or collisions with another athlete! The generic quality of store-bought versions, though, hampers their protective ability.

The same, however, can’t be said of custom-fit mouthguards. These ones have individual specifications, so they offer maximum protection compared to pre-made versions.

They’re Cost-Effective

Perhaps the biggest advantage of custom-fit mouthguards is that they’re more affordable than generic ones. For example, the latter often wear out quickly because they are not customized for the people who buy them. In other words, you’ll likely put more stress on some parts of the generic mouthguard, like the sections where it makes contact with the wires of dental braces.

As you can see, you’ll have a safer smile with a custom mouthguard instead of one from a store. Therefore, talk to your dentist about getting one in the coming days.

About the Practice

Compass Dental is based in Savannah, GA. Led by Dr. Charles Fana for over twenty years, our practice seeks to give patients better oral health and more confident appearances. As such, we offer preventive,  cosmetic, and restorative dental treatments, including emergency care. Our office can even make custom mouthguards for patients with bruxism. For more information or to book an appointment, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (912)-352-3955.