You will often hear dentists stress the importance of protecting your teeth from biological harm, like decay and disease. However, it is just as important to protect your teeth from harm caused by force and external trauma—everything from teeth grinding to obtaining an injury during a sporting event. For the best protective measures in these types of situations, Drs. Viglielmo: Biological Dentistry recommends the use of mouthguards.
About Mouthguards
Mouthguards protect your teeth, jaw, and the soft tissues of your tongue, lips, and cheek lining. Our Kingston, NY biological dentists custom design your mouthguard from plastic to perfectly fit the shape of your teeth and mouth.
If you have decided a mouthguard is right for you, our dentists will take an impression of your teeth to begin the customization process. The impression will be sent to a lab, which will generate your unique appliance. We now are also using our digital scanner for many of these appliances to avoid the need for impression materials. In most cases you can choose from a variety of colors and styles. On average, mouthguards last between 3 and 10 years.
Types of Mouthguards
Mouthguards can be classified into two main categories:
- Sports Mouthguards – used to protect the jaw and teeth during physical activity and sports such as football, basketball, hockey, boxing, karate, or any other activity where you may be hit in the mouth.
- Nightguards – used by people who grind or clench (brux) their teeth at night to protect the teeth and jaw joint (TMJ).
Sports Mouthguards
Whenever you engage in intensive, potentially dangerous physical activity, it is important to wear the right protection. For football players that means a helmet. For soccer players that means shin guards. For skateboarders that means elbow pads. But for all these activities, and many others, the quintessential protective accessory is the sports mouthguard. According to the American Dental Association, 30% of all dental injuries are sports related. By engaging in physical activity without a sports mouthguard, you are putting yourself at risk for:
- Broken Teeth
- Chipped Teeth
- Fractured Jaws
- Concussions
- Broken Braces/Brackets
- Damage to Roots of Teeth
Nightguards
Research shows that up to 1/3 of the population exhibits teeth grinding/clenching (typically at night while sleeping). When teeth grinding/clenching becomes chronic it can cause permanent damage to your teeth. Over time it wears down the surface of your teeth, which then leaves the soft dentin beneath your enamel exposed and vulnerable. As a result, you could experience:
- Chipped Teeth
- Tooth Flattening
- Cracked Enamel
- Tooth Loss
- Gum Recession
- Damaged Fillings
- Joint pain, derangement and/or noise
Additionally, grinding/clenching your teeth at night can cause you to wake up with headaches, tooth pain, and a sore jaw. Never fear, though, in order to treat teeth grinding/clenching, our Kingston, NY biological dentists custom-make nightguards to alleviate your pain, protect your teeth from harmful long-term effects, and offer immediate relief to your sleep stress.
Get Your Mouthguard Today
Drs. Viglielmo: Biological Dentistry wants to help protect your teeth from harm and your mouth from pain whenever possible. That is why our Kingston, NY dentistry office offers customized mouthguards. So whether you need a sports mouthguard for protection during physical activity, or a nightguard to treat teeth grinding and clenching, we have you covered. For more information on mouthguards, or to book an appointment with our dentists, please contact us today.