- What is a Pediatric Dentist? |
- When Will My Baby Start Getting Teeth? |
- Proper Tooth Cleaning |
- Healthy Diet for Healthy Teeth
- Importance of Regular Dental Check-ups |
- Sealants |
- Baby Bottle Tooth Decay |
- Eruption of Child's Teeth |
- Oral Habits
- Tooth Coming In Wrong |
- Why is it Important to Save Baby Teeth? |
- What is the Best Time for Orthodontic Treatment?
- Management of the Fearful or Anxious Child |
- Special Needs for Your Special Child |
- Sedation and Hospital Dentistry
- Sports Guards |
- Mouth Guards |
- Space Maintainer
A mouth guard is a piece of soft plastic shaped to fit inside the mouth, protecting the lips, cheeks, tongue and teeth and the jaw when they are hit by large object - like a ball, or someone's elbow or head.
There are 3 main types of mouth guards:
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Stock. The least expensive, stock type mouth guards cost about $2.00 and come in three sizes – small, medium and large. You get what you pay for in terms of fit. Some users complain that they are too wide in the back, making it hard to breath or talk.
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Boil and Bite. A semi-custom fit can be made using a "boil and bite" model mouth guard. Hot water is used to soften the plastic and your child then bites into the guard, molding it to his or her teeth. This type of mouth guard sells for between $5 and $15 and offers very good protection.
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Custom. A dentist makes the best fitting mouth guards in a dental office. Not surprisingly, this kind of mouth guard is the most expensive of the three, costing between $35 and $65. Custom mouth guards are the best option if your child plays a number of sports each year or plays sports with continuous activity, like basketball or soccer.