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Selecting the Right
Mouth Guard
The American Academy
of Pediatric Dentistry, the American
Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and the American
Association of Orthodontists advocate the use of mouth guards
for children and adults when cycling, in-line skating, skateboarding
or playing any sport with the potential for facial injuries. Such
sports include, but are not limited to, football, wrestling, basketball,
baseball, volleyball, ice and field hockey, softball, and soccer.
The chart below offers assistance in deciding which type of mouth
guard to purchase
Type of Mouth Guard |
Description |
Benefits |
Drawbacks |
| Custom-made |
A dental professional makes an impression of entire set of
teeth, which may be sent to a laboratory for fabrication using
a head-molded plastic. |
- Most protection and comfort.
- Covers all teeth and cushions jaw, reduces likelihood
of concussions caused by blows to the chin.
- No interference with speech or breathing
- Adjustable for different sports
- Essential to anyone wearing an orthodontic appliance.
|
- More expensive than commercially made guards.
|
| Mouth-formed, or "boil and bite" |
Made of a special rubber, this model is boiled, cooled and
then placed in the patient's mouth by a dental professional
to harden. |
- Most popular style
- Relatively low cost.
- Better fit than store-bought protectors.
|
- Will not fit as well with braces
- Brittle after prolonged use.
|
| Commercial, ready-to-wear mouth guards |
Rubber or polyvinyl |
- Sold in major department stores.
- Inexpensive
|
- Cannot be tested for comfort
- Lease effective in terms of protection
- Stays in place only when in mouth is closed
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