If you play contact sports or suffer from grinding your teeth at night, a mouthguard or nightguard could be able to help. Proper protection is often key to avoid damage to your teeth, gums, and jaw. With a custom mouthguard in Tulsa, OK, you could help protect and preserve your teeth with greater comfort over store-bought guards. Everyone’s bite is different, and you can’t expect oral appliances to be one-size-fits-all. Getting a custom guard is the most recommended way to help protect your oral health from trauma and tension.
Why Get a Custom Mouthguard in Tulsa, OK
Using a mouthguard or nightguard in general can prevent damage to your teeth. However, using the wrong guard could cause damage to your gums and jaw. Over-the-counter oral appliances aren’t designed to fit your unique bite. This means they could be ineffective in protection and might even harm your oral health. An improper fit could cause your teeth to shift, rub painfully against your gums, or create uneven tension, leading to jaw disorders. Using a custom-made guard can help ensure your entire bite is protected.
Comfort
Wearing an over-the-counter guard can often be uncomfortable or even painful. The one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t account for uneven bites or other malocclusion issues. And even if you do have a ‘perfect’ bite, your guard could still not fit well. If you’re wearing an uncomfortable mouthguard, it could make it harder to concentrate and perform well in a sports game. And an improperly fitted nightguard could negatively impact your sleep. The comfort of a custom oral appliance could help improve your daily and nightly activities.
Maximum Protection
Some over-the-counter guards may be effective in protecting your teeth from physical impact. However, they aren’t always 100% effective. If your mouthguard doesn’t fit your bite, there could be areas that are more at risk for damage. Say, for example, you have overcrowding that leads to one tooth protruding forward. Without a custom guard, this tooth could take the burnt of the force during contact. A custom guard takes into consideration the position of every tooth for maximum protection and coverage.
Insurance Coverage
Depending on your dental (or medical) insurance, you may be able to get partial coverage for your oral appliance. If your dentist determines that your mouthguard or nightguard is a necessity for your oral health, insurance may cover some of the cost. It can be more costly to get a custom mouthguard, but it’s often more cost-effective in the long run to avoid damage and restorative treatment.
Having a custom mouthguard or nightguard can often provide better protection for your teeth and gums compared to over-the-counter ones. At Henrich Dental, we provide high-quality custom mouthguards for patients who play sports. We also provide custom nightguards for patients who suffer from bruxism. Call us today at (918) 262-4731 to schedule a consultation and see if a mouthguard is right for you.