Night Guards
A slim guard you wear to bed that helps shield teeth from grinding and clenching.
About night guardsPreventive care
Custom mouth guards in Lehi
Between club soccer, ski days and trail rides, active families take a lot of bumps. A guard shaped to your own teeth helps keep a stray hit from turning into a broken tooth.
What is a custom mouth guard?
A custom guard is a soft, bendable shield built from a scan of your teeth. It sits over your teeth and softens the force of a blow to the face. The close fit helps it stay put, and many players find it easier to talk and breathe in than a store guard.
- Shaped from your own teeth
- Helps shield teeth, lips and cheeks
- Available for children, teens and adults
Who should wear a mouth guard
Any sport or hobby with contact or the chance of a fall is a good reason for a guard. Common ones include:
- Football, lacrosse and hockey
- Soccer, basketball and baseball
- Martial arts, wrestling and boxing
- Skiing, biking and skateboarding
Kids in braces gain a lot from a guard, because one hit can press the lips into the brackets. A guard can also shield teeth from daytime clenching. Grinding during sleep calls for a different device, a night guard, which is built for overnight use.
As children grow and new teeth come in, a guard may stop fitting and need to be replaced. We check the fit at routine visits.
What to expect
- Scan. After a look at your teeth, your dentist takes a digital scan or a mold of your bite.
- Build. Your guard is formed from tough, flexible material to match the shape of your teeth.
- Try it on. At a quick follow-up, we place the guard, check how it fits and smooth any edge that rubs. You also learn how to clean and store it.
Custom or store-bought?
A boil-and-bite guard is better than nothing. Still, these guards tend to be bulky and can slip during a game. A custom guard can be slimmer in the right places and grips your teeth more firmly, so players are more likely to keep it in from start to finish.
Caring for your mouth guard
After every practice or game, rinse the guard and scrub it lightly with a brush and cool water. Skip hot water, since heat can bend it. Keep it in a case with air holes, and never leave it in a hot car. Toss it in your bag on checkup days, and we will look it over for wear. If it cracks, feels loose or stops fitting, it is time for a new one.
Cost and insurance
Your cost depends on the care you need and your dental plan. After your exam, we give you an estimate and go over what your insurance is likely to cover before any treatment starts. We work with most major dental plans and accept CareCredit.
FAQ
Questions about mouth guards
Can my kid still call plays with a guard in?
Most players can call plays and take sips of water with a custom guard in. It can take a few practices to feel natural.
When should a mouth guard be replaced?
An adult guard may last a season or more. Kids usually outgrow theirs sooner as their teeth and jaws change.
Do kids with braces need a special guard?
They should wear one, and it can be shaped to leave space for the brackets. Ask your dentist about a braces-friendly guard.
A tooth got knocked out at a game. What do I do?
Hold the tooth by the white chewing part and do not touch the root. Try to ease it back into place, or store it in a cup of milk. Then call us at once, because the sooner it is treated, the more likely it can be saved.
Related care
You may also want to know about
Oral Trauma
Treatment for teeth, gums and lips hurt in falls, games or other accidents.
About oral traumaEmergency Dental Care
Prompt help with throbbing teeth, breaks and other mouth problems that need care soon.
About emergency dental careQuestions?
Call to book your visit
Our Lehi team will answer your questions and find a time that works for you.