Cushion Teeth
Resilient material helps absorb and distribute impact that could chip, fracture, loosen or knock out a tooth.
Port Dover Family Dentistry
Sports Guards in Port Dover
Custom sports guards in Port Dover help protect teeth, soft tissues, braces and fixed dental work with a secure fit designed for the athlete.
New patients welcomeCDCP accepted
Let’s get you smiling
Book an appointment
Tell us how we can help. Our team will follow up to confirm a time.
Protect your active smile
A Guard Only Helps When It Fits And Stays In Place
A properly fitted sports guard helps reduce the incidence and severity of injuries to teeth and oral soft tissues during activities involving contact, falls or flying objects. It belongs with the athlete’s protective equipment during both practices and competition.
Stock, boil-and-bite and custom guards differ in fit, comfort and adaptability. A dentist-made guard is formed from individual records and can be designed around braces, fixed dental work, growth and the demands of a particular activity.
Consistency matters
The best sports guard is properly fitted, comfortable enough to wear consistently, secure without clenching and suitable for the athlete’s teeth, appliances and sport.
Protection beyond the front teeth
What A Sports Guard Is Designed To Do
Protect Soft Tissues
Coverage can reduce injury to the lips, cheeks and tongue when the mouth receives a blow.
Cover Dental Work
A suitable design can help protect fixed restorations and account for areas that need extra care.
Work With Braces
An orthodontic-compatible guard can create space for brackets and tooth movement while protecting the mouth.
No mouthguard prevents every injury or substitutes for helmets, face protection, safe technique and the equipment rules of the sport.
Made around the athlete
How A Custom Guard Is Created
Assess The Mouth
We review age, sport, braces, eruption, missing teeth, restorations and any current pain or injury before choosing a design.
Capture The Fit
A scan or impression records the teeth and surrounding anatomy so the guard can be fabricated for secure coverage.
Fit And Review
The finished guard is checked for retention, coverage, comfort, bite, speech and breathing, with adjustments when appropriate.
Recheck Over Time
Growth, orthodontic movement, dental treatment and wear can change the fit, so the guard should return for periodic review.
Compare the options
Fit, Comfort And Consistent Wear Separate The Three Main Types
Stock guards are ready to wear but offer limited adaptation and may feel bulky or unstable. Boil-and-bite guards soften in hot water and can fit more closely when prepared exactly as directed, although shaping and retention vary.
Custom guards are fabricated from the athlete’s dental records and can be tailored for coverage, material thickness, orthodontic needs and the activity. They cost more and require dental visits, but many athletes find the fit and wearability easier to manage.
Stock
Immediately available and inexpensive, but available sizes may not stay secure or allow comfortable speech and breathing.
Boil And Bite
Moulded at home according to manufacturer directions; a poor mould can leave the guard thin, loose or uncomfortable.
Custom
Individually fabricated and professionally fitted, with design choices based on the mouth and activity.
Replace or reassess
A Guard Must Change As The Mouth Changes
There is no universal replacement date. Condition, growth, dental treatment and use determine when a new guard is needed.
Growth Or Tooth Movement
Children, teens and patients in orthodontic treatment need more frequent checks as teeth and jaws change.
Damage Or Thinning
Replace a guard that is torn, deeply chewed, distorted, sharp-edged or too thin in protective areas.
Loose Or Painful Fit
A guard that slips, pinches, causes tooth pain or requires constant clenching should be assessed before use.
New Dental Work
Fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, tooth loss or orthodontic changes may alter fit and coverage.
Do not use a sports guard as a night guard. Sports guards are designed to absorb impact; night guards are designed for grinding or clenching and require different assessment and materials.
Plan your protection
The Cost Of A Custom Sports Guard
Cost varies with the guard material and design, the athlete’s dental development and whether braces or other appliances require special construction.
With insurance
$100–$300+
Illustrative patient portion only
Without insurance
$150–$350+
General estimate only
These ranges are estimates, not a quote or guarantee of coverage. The office can provide an individualized estimate after assessment for submission to your insurer.
What Can Affect The Fee
The final estimate reflects the mouth, appliance and fabrication required—not just the sport name.
- Material, thickness, layering and sport-specific coverage
- Braces, eruption, growth and changing tooth positions
- Dental restorations or areas requiring additional relief
- Fabrication records, fitting and clinically required adjustments
Insurance plans differ in eligible fees, frequency limits and reimbursement. Confirm coverage directly with your insurer before treatment if cost is a concern.
Custom sports-guard fitting
Protect the smile behind the helmet.
We can assess the athlete’s teeth, appliances and activity and design a guard that feels secure enough to wear consistently.
Sports guard questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a sports guard as a night guard?+
No. Sports guards cushion the mouth from athletic impact, while night guards are designed for concerns such as sleep grinding or clenching. Use an appliance made and assessed for its intended purpose.
Are mouthguard and mouth protector different terms?+
In a sports context, mouthguard, sports guard and mouth protector generally describe the same type of protective appliance worn over the teeth.
How long does a sports guard last?+
Replacement depends on fit, wear, damage, growth, orthodontic movement and frequency of use. Bring it to dental visits and replace it when it becomes loose, damaged, distorted or uncomfortable.
How should a good sports guard fit?+
It should stay securely in place without constant clenching, feel comfortable, cover the intended teeth and allow practical breathing and speech. It should not have sharp edges or cause persistent pressure or pain.
Which activities call for a sports guard?+
Consider one whenever contact, falls or flying objects could injure the mouth—for example hockey, football, lacrosse, soccer, basketball, baseball, boxing, martial arts, mountain biking, skating, skateboarding and gymnastics. Follow the sport’s equipment rules.
Can I wear a sports guard with braces?+
Yes. The design must protect teeth, brackets, lips and cheeks while allowing planned tooth movement. Ask the dentist or orthodontist which type is suitable and have the fit checked regularly.
