Why Your Custom Mouthguard Is Worth It
The American Dental Association estimates that athletes who don’t wear a mouthguard are 60 times more likely to suffer dental injuries than those who do. A single knocked-out front tooth can cost thousands of dollars and a lifetime of dental work to replace — while a custom mouthguard costs a fraction of that and lasts for years. Beyond your teeth, studies also suggest a well-fitted mouthguard can reduce the severity of concussions by cushioning jaw-to-skull impact.
Custom vs. Boil-and-Bite — It’s Not Close
Walk into any sporting goods store and you’ll find boil-and-bite mouthguards for five to fifteen dollars. They work — sort of. You drop them in hot water, bite down, and hope for a decent fit. The trouble is they’re bulky, tend to pop out during play, make it harder to breathe and talk, and never really match the contours of your teeth and gums. Kids and athletes tell us they end up taking them out between plays, which defeats the whole point. A custom mouthguard is made from an exact digital or physical impression of your teeth — it fits snugly without clenching, lets you breathe and talk naturally, and stays comfortable through an entire game.
How Yours Gets Made
You’ll need two short visits to our Charlottesville office. At the first, Dr. Karamcheti takes a digital scan (or a traditional impression) of your upper teeth — it takes about ten comfortable minutes. That impression goes to the lab, where a technician builds your multi-layer mouthguard in the color you choose. At your second visit, the fit is checked, any small adjustments are made, and you leave ready for your next practice.
Sports Your Mouthguard Can Be Made For
Custom mouthguards get made here for athletes of every age and level — from the littlest Albemarle County peewee football players to competitive UVA club-sport athletes. The most common requests:
- Football
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Lacrosse
- Field hockey
- Ice hockey
- Wrestling
- Boxing & martial arts
- Mountain biking & skateboarding
- Rugby
Caring for Your Mouthguard
Rinse your mouthguard with cool water and brush it gently with a soft toothbrush after every use. Store it in the ventilated case you’ll get from us — and please, never in a hot car, since heat can warp the plastic. Bring it to every dental visit so the fit can be checked. Kids’ growing jaws may need a new guard every year or two, while adult guards typically last three to five years of regular use.