Mouth Guards

Sports Mouth Guards

If you are hit in the mouth while playing sports, a custom-fitted mouth guard provides a barrier acts as a cushion between your teeth and your mouth's soft tissue to protect your smile. 

These dental appliances are made specifically for your mouth and made to protect the face, jaw, head and teeth from injury while you focus on the action on the ice, rink or court.

The Canadian Dental Association recommends mouth guards for any sport with a risk of contact to the face, including hockey, football, basketball, soccer, martial arts, skateboarding, and mountain biking. A custom guard from your dentist provides significantly better protection than boil-and-bite guards from a sporting goods store, which often fit poorly and can shift during impact.

Children and teenagers involved in sports especially benefit from custom mouth guards, as their developing teeth and jaws are more vulnerable to injury. We can adjust the fit as their mouths grow. Visit our children's dental services page for more information.

Night Guards

Do you grind your teeth during sleep? People who do so sometimes end up with chipped or fractured teeth, tooth wear, jaw pain, headaches and more symptoms due to the stress on their jaw. 

A mouth guard can help protect your teeth from damage, help keep you from clenching and offer some pain relief to help you get a good night's sleep — and save costs on repairs to teeth in the future.

Bruxism (teeth grinding) affects an estimated 8% to 10% of adults and is often linked to stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, or bite misalignment. Left untreated, it can lead to cracked teeth, worn enamel, TMJ disorder, chronic headaches, and the need for crowns or other restorations.

A custom night guard creates a thin, comfortable barrier between your upper and lower teeth, absorbing the forces of grinding and reducing strain on your jaw joint. Many patients also report improvement in headaches and jaw tension within the first few weeks of use. If you also experience dental anxiety, we offer sedation options to keep you comfortable during your fitting appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long does a custom mouth guard last?

  A well-maintained custom mouth guard typically lasts 2 to 5 years for adults. For children and teenagers whose mouths are still growing, we may need to remake the guard every 1 to 2 years. Bring your mouth guard to each dental visit so we can check the fit and condition.

• Why is a custom guard better than a store-bought one?

  Store-bought boil-and-bite guards provide a generic fit that can be bulky, uncomfortable, and less protective. Custom guards are made from a precise 3D scan of your teeth using our SprintRay Midas 3D printer, so they fit exactly to your mouth. This means better protection, easier breathing and speaking, and a comfortable fit you will actually wear consistently.

• How do I know if I grind my teeth at night?

  Common signs include waking up with jaw pain or headaches, worn or flattened tooth surfaces, chipped teeth, tooth sensitivity, and tightness in the jaw muscles. Your dentist can also identify grinding damage during a routine checkup — often before you notice any symptoms yourself.

• Can children wear custom mouth guards?

  Yes, and we strongly recommend them for any child involved in contact or impact sports. We can make custom guards for children as soon as they have enough permanent teeth for a stable fit, typically around age 7 or 8. The guard can be remade as they grow to ensure continued protection.

• How do I care for my mouth guard?

  Rinse your mouth guard with cool water after each use and brush it gently with a soft toothbrush. Store it in the ventilated case we provide to allow it to dry and prevent bacterial growth. Avoid leaving it in hot water, direct sunlight, or a hot car, as heat can warp the material and change the fit.

Benefits of Custom Mouth Guards

• Precise Fit — Made from a digital scan of your teeth, custom guards fit securely without shifting, slipping, or interfering with breathing.
• Superior Protection — Custom guards provide significantly better impact absorption than store-bought alternatives, reducing the risk of broken teeth, soft tissue injuries, and concussion.
• 3D Printed In-House — Our SprintRay Midas 3D printer produces your guard right in our clinic, so there is no waiting weeks for a dental lab.
• Comfortable to Wear — A guard that fits well is one you will actually use. Custom guards are thinner and more comfortable than generic alternatives, making it easier to commit to wearing them every night or every game.
• Prevents Costly Damage — The cost of a custom mouth guard is a fraction of what it costs to repair a cracked tooth, replace a knocked-out tooth with a dental implant, or treat TMJ disorder.
• Durable Materials — Professional-grade materials last longer and maintain their shape better than the plastics used in over-the-counter products.