3737 E State Route 36, Decatur, IL, 62521
Athletic Mouth Protection Shaped to Your Own Teeth
A mouth guard only works if it is being worn, and comfort is what determines whether it stays in. Guards pulled off a shelf have to be held in place by clenching, which interferes with breathing and speech, so athletes take them out. A custom guard is fabricated from a precise model of your own teeth, retains itself without effort, and maintains protective thickness exactly where impact forces land.
For a young athlete, a tooth lost at fifteen means implants, bridges, or partials for the next sixty years. A custom guard is a small measure against a very long-term problem.
Get Fitted for a Custom Mouth Guard
What a Properly Fitted Guard Actually Protects
- Teeth. Prevents chips, fractures, root damage and avulsed teeth.
- Jaw. Cushions the lower jaw against impact and reduces the risk of fracture.
- Soft tissue. Shields lips, cheeks and tongue from being cut against the edges of the teeth.
- Jaw joints. Absorbs force that would otherwise transmit directly into the TMJ.
- Existing dental work. Protects crowns, bridges and orthodontic appliances from impact damage.
Which Athletes Need a Mouth Guard
Football and hockey are obvious candidates, but dental injuries occur regularly in basketball, soccer, wrestling, baseball, softball, lacrosse, martial arts, skateboarding, gymnastics and cheerleading. Basketball in particular produces a high volume of dental trauma because there is no facial protection combined with constant close contact.
If a sport involves any realistic chance of a collision, a fall or a stray elbow, a guard belongs in the equipment bag and in the mouth.
How Your Custom Mouth Guard Is Made
The process takes two short visits and produces an appliance that performs across an entire season.
01
Fit Assessment
We examine your bite, check for erupting teeth in younger patients, and note any orthodontic appliances that need to be accommodated.
Prev
NEXT
02
Impression or Digital Scan
An accurate record of your upper arch is captured, which takes only a few minutes.
Prev
NEXT
03
Model Fabrication
A precise working model of your teeth is produced from that record.
Prev
NEXT
04
Guard Construction
The guard is formed over the model using durable athletic-grade material, with thickness concentrated across the biting surfaces and front teeth where impact energy is greatest.
Prev
NEXT
05
Trimming and Finishing
Borders are contoured so the guard clears the gum tissue and frenum attachments comfortably.
Prev
NEXT
06
Delivery and Fit Check
You try it in, we confirm retention, comfort, speech and breathing, and make any final adjustments before you take it to practice.
Prev
NEXT
Mouth Guards for Athletes Wearing Braces
Athletes in orthodontic treatment carry the highest risk of all. Brackets can lacerate lips and cheeks on impact, and a dental injury mid-treatment complicates the entire orthodontic plan. We fabricate guards designed to fit over fixed appliances while allowing for the tooth movement that is actively happening, so protection continues throughout treatment.
Caring for Your Guard So It Lasts the Season
Rinse it in cool water before and after each use and brush it gently with a toothbrush. Store it in a ventilated case rather than a sealed bag so it can dry. Keep it out of hot cars and away from direct sunlight, since heat warps the material and permanently ruins the fit. Bring it to recall visits so we can check retention, which matters especially for growing children whose teeth are still erupting.
Season Starting Soon? Get Fitted Before the First Practice
A significant share of sports dental injuries happen at practice, not in games. Call 217-423-2400 or request an appointment to have a custom guard made in time.
Request Appointment