Reviewed by Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS — South Florida Smile Spa, Pompano Beach, FL
A custom sports mouthguard in Pompano Beach from South Florida Smile Spa is the cheapest dental work you will ever have done, because it is the work that prevents the expensive kind. A knocked-out front tooth costs years of root canals, crowns and eventually an implant; the guard that would have stopped it costs less than one of those visits. Dr. Berger makes mouthguards for children and adults who play football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, hockey, baseball, martial arts and anything else where a ball, a stick, an elbow or the ground can meet a face. This page explains why a custom guard protects better than the one from the sporting goods store, how it is made, and how to care for it.
Quick answer
A sports mouthguard is a flexible appliance worn over the upper teeth during practice and games to cushion blows to the mouth. It prevents chipped, broken and knocked-out teeth, cuts to the lips and cheeks, and jaw fractures, and it is recommended by the American Dental Association for every contact and collision sport and most ball sports. A custom guard made from a scan or impression of your teeth fits snugly, stays in place without clenching, lets you breathe and talk, and absorbs impact evenly, which the loose, bulky boil-and-bite guards do not. At South Florida Smile Spa in Pompano Beach a custom mouthguard takes two short visits, and for growing children it is remade as the teeth change.
Why It Matters
What a mouthguard actually prevents
Dental injuries are among the most common injuries in youth sports, and the front teeth take most of them. A guard spreads the force of a blow across the whole arch instead of one tooth.
- Knocked-out and broken teeth. A front tooth lost at twelve means a lifetime of replacements: a bonded or flipper tooth now, a root canal or crown if it survives, and an implant once growth is finished. The guard is the alternative.
- Cut lips, cheeks and tongue. The guard covers the sharp edges of the teeth so a hit to the mouth does not turn them into a blade.
- Jaw injuries. By keeping the upper and lower teeth from slamming together, a guard cushions the jaw joints and reduces the chance of a jaw fracture.
- Damage to braces and dental work. Brackets cut the inside of the lips on impact, and crowns, veneers and implants crack when hit. Athletes with any of these need a guard most.
The American Dental Association’s page on mouthguards recommends them for contact and collision sports and notes that injuries happen in non-contact sports too.
The three kinds of mouthguard, compared
| Stock (one size) | Boil-and-bite | Custom (dentist-made) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fit | Loose; held in by clenching | Rough fit after softening in hot water; loosens with use | Exact fit from a scan or impression; stays in on its own |
| Breathing and speech | Bulky; hard to breathe and talk | Bulky; players remove it to talk | Thin where possible; normal breathing and speech |
| Protection | Minimal; shifts on impact | Moderate; thickness uneven after biting | Even thickness over the teeth that take the hits; extra on the front teeth for high-impact sports |
| Lifespan | Weeks | A season at best | Several seasons for adults; replaced as children’s teeth change |
| Compliance | Low; kids spit them out | Low to moderate | High, because it is comfortable |
| Cost | Lowest | Low | Higher up front; often covered in part by dental insurance |
The Process
How a custom mouthguard is made
- Quick exam. Dr. Berger checks for loose baby teeth, erupting adult teeth, braces and existing dental work, because each changes how the guard is designed.
- Scan or impression. A digital scan or a quick impression of the upper teeth, which takes a few minutes and is easy for children.
- Fabrication. The guard is pressure-formed over a model of your teeth in a material about 3 to 4 mm thick, thicker over the front teeth for high-impact sports, and trimmed so it does not rub the gums or trigger a gag reflex. Team colors are available.
- Fitting. About a week or two later the guard is tried in, the edges smoothed, and the bite checked so the lower teeth meet it evenly.
Order it before the season starts, not after the first hit. A guard made during the preseason is in the bag for the first practice.
Mouthguards for children and teens
Children start needing a guard the moment they start organized sports, usually around age six or seven, and the years from about seven to fourteen are the riskiest, because the adult front teeth have come in but the face and reflexes are still catching up. A child’s guard is made with room for erupting teeth and is checked at each cleaning and exam; it usually needs remaking every one to two years as the mouth grows. The practical goal with a child is a guard they will not take out, which is why fit and comfort matter more than anything else. Our children’s dentistry page covers the rest of a young athlete’s dental care.
Mouthguards with braces or Invisalign
Braces make a guard more important, not less: a blow to the mouth drives the brackets into the lips, and a broken wire mid-game is its own injury. A guard for braces is made with extra room so it does not interfere with tooth movement, and it is remade or relined as the teeth align. Patients in Invisalign take the aligner out and wear the guard for the game, then put the aligner back in; aligners are not mouthguards and crack on impact.
If a tooth is knocked out anyway
Find the tooth, hold it by the crown and not the root, rinse it gently in milk or saline if it is dirty, and put it back in the socket if you can, biting on gauze to hold it. If you cannot, keep it in milk or in the cheek, never in water or a dry tissue, and call us immediately. A permanent tooth replanted within thirty minutes to an hour has a good chance of surviving; after that the odds fall quickly. Baby teeth are not replanted. Chipped teeth and cut lips are less urgent but should be seen the same day. Our emergency dentist page explains what to do and how to reach us.
Caring for a mouthguard
Rinse it before and after use and brush it with a toothbrush and cool soapy water. Let it dry in a vented case, not a sealed one. Keep it out of hot water, the sun and the car, which warp it. Do not chew on it, and replace it when it is torn, worn thin or no longer fits. Bring it to dental visits so we can check it, and keep it away from the dog.
Cost and insurance
Many dental plans cover a custom athletic mouthguard in part, particularly for children. Our team checks your benefits before the first visit. For patients without coverage the fee is quoted up front, and it is a fraction of the cost of treating a single broken front tooth. Families with several athletes can ask about guards for everyone at once.
Care in Pompano Beach
Why families choose South Florida Smile Spa for mouthguards
- Made for the sport. Thickness and coverage matched to the sport, with extra protection over the front teeth for hockey, lacrosse, boxing and martial arts.
- Made for the mouth. Room for erupting teeth, braces or dental work, so the guard fits now and does not interfere with what is changing.
- Comfortable enough to keep in. A thin, snug guard that lets kids breathe and talk is the one that is still in their mouth in the fourth quarter.
- Checked at every visit. Fit and wear are reviewed at routine cleanings and the guard is remade as a child grows.
- Here when it goes wrong. Same-day care for a knocked-out or broken tooth, with the whole family’s records already on file.
Families come to us for custom mouthguards from Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Coconut Creek. Book before the season, and bring the whole team if you like.
Season starts soon
Book a mouthguard fitting now. Two short visits, and your athlete has a guard that fits, stays in, and protects the teeth you would rather not replace.
South Florida Smile Spa · Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS · 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 · (954) 785-1100
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sports need a mouthguard?
Any sport with contact, a ball, a stick or a hard surface: football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, hockey, baseball and softball, wrestling, boxing and martial arts, rugby, volleyball, skateboarding, cycling and gymnastics. Basketball and soccer cause more dental injuries than football because players rarely wear guards. If there is any chance of a hit to the face, the answer is yes.
Is a custom mouthguard really better than a boil-and-bite?
Yes, in the ways that matter. It fits exactly, so it stays in without clenching and the thickness is even over the teeth that take the hits. It is thinner, so athletes can breathe and talk, which is why they keep it in. A boil-and-bite guard is better than nothing and fine as a backup, but it loosens, it is bulky, and most kids end up chewing it or taking it out.
At what age should a child get a mouthguard?
As soon as they start organized sports, usually six or seven. Even with baby teeth, a guard prevents cuts and protects the adult teeth developing underneath. From about seven to fourteen, when the adult front teeth are in but the face is still growing, a guard matters most. It is remade every year or two as the mouth changes.
Can you wear a mouthguard with braces?
Yes, and you should. A guard for braces is made with room for the brackets and for the teeth to move, and it protects the lips from being cut on impact. It is checked and adjusted as treatment progresses. Invisalign aligners are not mouthguards; take the aligner out for the game and wear the guard instead.
How long does a custom mouthguard last?
Several seasons for an adult whose teeth are not changing, as long as it is not chewed, left in a hot car or torn. A child’s guard is replaced every one to two years as teeth erupt and the jaw grows. Replace any guard that is worn thin, cracked or no longer snaps into place.
Do mouthguards prevent concussions?
The evidence is mixed. Mouthguards clearly prevent dental and soft-tissue injuries and cushion the jaw; some studies suggest a well-fitted guard may reduce the force transmitted to the skull, but it is not proven and a guard is not a substitute for a helmet or for concussion protocols. Wear it for your teeth and jaw; treat any concussion benefit as a bonus.
Can I get a mouthguard in my team colors?
Yes. Custom guards come in a range of solid colors and combinations, and a guard a kid likes is a guard a kid wears. Ask when you book.
Does insurance cover a sports mouthguard?
Often in part, especially for children, though plans vary. We check your benefits before the first visit and tell you what, if anything, you will owe. Without coverage the fee is quoted up front and is far less than repairing a single broken tooth.
Do you see patients from outside Pompano Beach?
Yes. Families come for custom mouthguards and children’s dental care from Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Coconut Creek and across Broward County. The office is at 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach. Call (954) 785-1100 or request an appointment.