Patient video
Welcoming and Wonderful Practice
A patient shares the welcoming atmosphere and positive experience they found at our Port Dover office.

Port Dover Family Dentistry
A well-fitted mouthguard helps protect a young athlete’s teeth. Fishers Glen families can discuss custom guards, growing mouths and braces in Port Dover.
Let’s get you smiling
Tell us how we can help. Our team will follow up to confirm a time.
Caring for Fishers Glen patients at our Port Dover office
See every service for Fishers GlenProtection for young athletes
Hockey, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, martial arts and even skateboarding can bring a risk of knocks to the face. A mouthguard helps cushion impacts that might otherwise chip, loosen or knock out teeth, and can protect the lips and cheeks too. The challenge with children is that a guard that is bulky or loose often ends up in a pocket.
Families in Fishers Glen can book a mouthguard visit at our Port Dover office. The dentist will check your child’s teeth, talk about the sport they play and discuss whether a custom guard suits their stage of development and any orthodontic treatment. Booking before the season starts avoids a rush.

Why fit matters
Store-bought guards come in standard sizes or are softened and shaped at home. They can work, but they may feel thick, make it harder to talk or breathe and slip during play. A custom guard is made from impressions or scans of your child’s teeth, which often improves comfort and makes it more likely to stay in place.
Contact and collision sports may call for a different thickness than lower-impact activities. Tell the dentist which sports your child plays, what position and whether a helmet or face cage is also worn. This helps the team suggest an appropriate design without making the guard more cumbersome than it needs to be. Mention any league rules about guard type or colour.
Growing mouths
Between roughly six and twelve, baby teeth are falling out and adult teeth are arriving. A guard that fits perfectly in autumn may feel different by spring. The dentist can discuss how often replacement may be needed and what signs to watch for, such as the guard becoming tight, loose or rubbing on new teeth.
If your child wears braces or is about to start orthodontic treatment, mention it at the appointment. Guards for braces need to allow for brackets and tooth movement. Ask the dentist or orthodontist which type is suitable and how to protect the lips and cheeks from brackets during contact. A guard may need replacing as treatment moves teeth.
Making the guard
At the first visit, the dentist examines your child’s teeth and takes impressions or digital scans. Let the team know if your child has a strong gag reflex or feels anxious about the process. Explaining it as making a mould, like pressing a toy into soft clay, can help younger children understand. The step takes only a few minutes.
When the guard is ready, it is tried in for fit and comfort. Your child should be able to close, speak reasonably clearly and breathe without the guard shifting. Small adjustments may be made. Ask your child to tell you honestly if anything pinches, because discomfort is the most common reason guards are left at home.
Care and replacement
Rinse the guard after each use, brush it gently and let it dry in a ventilated case. Keep it out of hot cars and away from boiling water, which can warp the shape. Discourage chewing on the guard, and replace it if it becomes torn, thin or misshapen, since damage reduces protection. Label the case with your child’s name.
Bring the guard to your child’s checkups so the dentist can see whether it still fits around their changing teeth. If your child takes a blow to the mouth even while wearing it, call the office for advice. Teeth can be injured despite protection, and early assessment is important. Bring the guard along to that visit as well, so its condition can be checked.
Planning your appointment
Call our Port Dover office to book a mouthguard appointment, ideally before the season begins. Mention your child’s sport and any orthodontic treatment so the right time can be set aside.
If your child has an existing guard, bring it along so the dentist can compare fit and discuss what is or is not working.
Before you book
Have a question about your situation? Our team can help you plan a visit.
Any child playing a sport with a risk of falls or contact can benefit. Ask the dentist about your child’s activities and stage of tooth development, as these affect the type of guard and how often it may need replacing.
Yes, but the guard must accommodate brackets and moving teeth. Discuss options with the dentist or orthodontist. A poorly suited guard can be uncomfortable or interfere with treatment, so it is worth getting advice. Check the fit again after adjustments.
Children’s guards may need replacement as teeth erupt and the mouth grows. The dentist can check fit at regular visits and advise when a new guard is needed. Damage or loose fit are also signs it is time to replace it.
For an adult tooth, handle it by the crown, keep it moist in milk and call a dentist immediately. Do not replant a baby tooth. Seek emergency medical care for head injury, heavy bleeding or breathing problems.
Mouthguards are designed mainly to protect teeth and soft tissues. Evidence that they prevent concussion is limited, so they should not be relied on for that purpose. Follow your sport’s guidance on helmets and head-injury protocols.
Contact sports and falls can damage teeth fast. Fishers Glen athletes of any age can learn how a custom sports guard is fitted and cared for in Port Dover.
A child’s knocked tooth, toothache or swollen face can be frightening. Fishers Glen parents can learn the first steps and when to call our Port Dover office.
Recognized year after year
Best Dentists in Norfolk
Proudly recognized among Norfolk’s top-rated dental practices for six consecutive years.

2021 Winner

2022 Winner

2023 Winner

2024 Winner

2025 Winner

2026 Winner
Stories from our patients
Watch a patient’s experience and browse more five-star reviews from people who have visited our Port Dover dental clinic.
Patient video
A patient shares the welcoming atmosphere and positive experience they found at our Port Dover office.
Google reviews
Swipe or use the arrows
Read all reviewsYour next visit can start today
New patients and CDCP patients are welcome. Tell us how we can help and our Port Dover dental team will follow up with you.
Evening appointments Monday and Tuesday