Different types of mouth
guards
There are a variety of different mouth guards on the
market these days, but basically they fall into 2 different groups: Those
that are off the shelf and those that are custom made.
Mouth-formed mouth guards
These mouth guards come as a shell-liner and "boil-and
bite" product. The shell is lined with acrylic or rubber. When placed
in an athlete’s mouth, the protector’s lining material moulds to the teeth
and is allowed to set. The lining of the "boil-and-bite" mouth guard is
immersed in boiling water for 10-45 seconds, transferred to cold water and
then adapted to the teeth. While they are less expensive than custom-made
guards, the fit is not as good and they
generally do
not last as long. If you choose a boil and bite mouth guard you
are required to wear a connecting strap to the face mask, this is because
they do not fit as well and tend to fall out of the mouth.
Custom-made mouth guards
This is by far the best choice for mouth guards, they
are custom-made by your Denturist. It offers the best protection, fit and
comfort level because it is made from a cast to fit your teeth. An
impression is taken of your mouth, the mouth guard material is vacuum formed
on the model and then hand trimmed to provide a comfortable fit.
There are different types of custom mouth guards,
depending on the type of material used from high-end such as Pro-form to
less expensive types. You should ask the person making the mouth guard what
kind they use and your decision should be based on need and budget. With a
custom mouth guard you are not required
to wear a connecting strap.
