Why dentists recommend mouthguards and sportsguards

We all know that brushing, flossing, and regular dental office visits will help maintain a healthy smile, but what about protecting the teeth from trauma and injury? At the practice of Dr. Raynald Michel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, patients can learn about proactive ways to protect their smiles with solutions such as mouthguards and sportsguards. These appliances are customized for a patient and worn during sports or sleeping to protect the smile from damage, including knocked-out teeth, broken teeth, and restorations. Understanding the reasons you may need mouthguards is the first step in obtaining appliances to keep your smile beautiful!

Why might I need a mouthguard?

Mouthguards are used to protect the smile, either from high-contact and high-impact sports activities or from conditions such as bruxism, which causes clenching and grinding of the teeth.

• Sportsguards. A custom sports mouthguard may be the best teeth protector around when patients are involved in high-contact sports such as hockey or soccer. Many instances of knocked-out or damaged teeth are a result of trauma and injury to the mouth, so protecting the teeth and gums is the first step in reducing the risk of significant damage to the smile. Sportsguards are made from impressions of the patient’s natural smile to ensure they fit correctly and protect the teeth from damage.
• Nightguards. Nightguards are mouthguards designed for patients with conditions such as TMJ or bruxism. These conditions can cause patients to clench and grind their teeth, which results in significant damage over time. By wearing a customized bruxism or TMJ mouthguard for grinding teeth, patients can protect their smile and reduce the risk of damage to natural teeth and dental restorations such as crowns, bridges, and veneers. It can be a smart investment for many of our patients.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Raynald Michel!

If you reside in the area of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and want to speak to our team about the benefits of custom mouthguards and sportsguards, contact the team at Raynald Michel, DDS today by calling (954) 573-2500 and visiting the office at 3051 North Federal Highway.