Professional Sports Guards Built Around Each Athlete’s Smile
Sports guards, mouth protectors, and mouth guards are different names for the same essential piece of athletic equipment. It’s a protective device worn over the teeth to absorb impact from blows to the face and head. For athletes of every age and skill level, a well-made mouth guard is one of the simplest ways to prevent broken teeth, cut lips, and other injuries to the mouth and jaw.
At Gilreath Family Dentistry, we create custom-fit mouth guards from a precise digital scan of each athlete’s teeth. There are no impression trays or messy molds. From young athletes in Marietta youth leagues to high school, college, and adult competitors throughout Cobb County, our custom sports guards deliver a secure, comfortable fit that athletes actually want to wear.
Schedule a Mouth Guard FittingTypes of Mouth Guards Available to Athletes
Whichever type an athlete chooses, a mouth guard should be resilient, tear-resistant, and comfortable. It should also fit properly without restricting speech or breathing. There are three main types of mouth guards:
- Custom-Made Mouth Guards – Individually designed from a digital scan for the best fit, comfort, and protection. They are the highest-quality option and preferred by most athletes.
- Boil-and-Bite Mouth Guards – Softened in boiling water and molded to your teeth. They can fit better than stock guards but require careful molding for a proper fit.
- Stock Mouth Guards – Preformed and ready to wear. They are the least expensive option but may fit poorly, feel bulky, and make talking or breathing more difficult.
What Goes Into Designing a Custom Sports Guard
Every custom mouth guard at Gilreath Family Dentistry begins with a pre-season screening or dental exam. Our doctors consider several important factors that a retail store or a boil-and-bite guard simply can’t address:
- The sport being played: Contact and collision sports may call for a different design than noncontact activities.
- The athlete’s age and development: For children ages 6 to 12 with a mix of baby and adult teeth, the guard must leave room for erupting teeth.
- The level of competition: Recreational, high school, college, and adult athletes may each need a different design.
- Previous dental injuries or concussions: Athletes with prior injuries may need extra protection in specific areas.
- Orthodontic treatment: Athletes with braces need a guard designed around their brackets and wires.
- Cavities or missing teeth: Existing dental conditions affect how the guard is fitted and how it protects the mouth.
Mouth guards typically cover the upper teeth. For athletes with braces or a fixed dental bridge on the lower jaw, our doctors may also recommend a lower mouth guard.
From Digital Scan to Game-Ready Mouth Guard
Getting a custom sports guard at Gilreath Family Dentistry is quick and easy. Here’s what the process looks like:
Pre-Season Exam and Consultation
One of our doctors evaluates the athlete’s teeth and discusses their sport, level of play, and any history of dental injuries or concussions.
Digital Scan
Instead of uncomfortable impression trays, we take a fast, comfortable digital scan of the teeth to create a precise 3D model.
Custom Fabrication
Using the digital scan and our doctors’ specifications, the mouth guard is designed and crafted from durable, FDA-approved material by a dental lab specializing in sports guards.
Fitting and Final Adjustments
The athlete tries on the finished guard. Our team checks the fit, comfort, and bite, and makes any adjustments needed.
Care Instructions
Every athlete leaves with simple instructions for cleaning, storing, and caring for the mouth guard so it lasts the full season.
Why Athletes Choose a Custom-Fit Mouth Guard
A professionally made mouth guard offers advantages that a one-size-fits-all guard can’t match:
- Superior fit and retention: Designed from a digital scan, a custom guard stays securely in place and won’t dislodge on impact.
- Better protection: Adequate thickness in all the right areas helps reduce impact forces on the teeth and jaw.
- Easier breathing and speaking: A precise fit means less bulk, so athletes can breathe and communicate with teammates naturally.
- All-day comfort: Smooth, contoured edges make the guard comfortable to wear through full practices and games.
- Designed for the sport: Each guard is tailored to the athlete’s sport, age, level of competition, and dental history.
- Helmet strap compatibility: Strap attachments for helmets can be added upon request, though the secure fit makes them optional.
Protect Every Play with a Custom Mouth Guard in Marietta
Get your athlete ready for the season with a professionally designed sports guard. Contact Gilreath Family Dentistry at 200 White St NW, Marietta, GA 30060 in Marietta to schedule a custom mouth guard fitting. We accept most dental insurance plans, as well as HSA and FSA funds.
Schedule an AppointmentFrequently Asked Questions
About Mouth Guards
A custom mouth guard offers a more secure fit, better comfort, and more reliable protection than store-bought options. Because it’s made from a digital scan of the athlete’s teeth, it stays in place during impact and makes breathing and speaking easier. Athletes are also more likely to wear a guard consistently when it fits well.
A custom sports mouth guard should ideally be replaced after each season, since it can wear down and become less effective over time. Children and teens may need replacements more often because their mouths are still growing. Our team can check the fit and condition of a mouth guard at every dental checkup.
Yes, and athletes with braces need protection even more, since brackets and wires can cut the lips and cheeks during impact. Gilreath Family Dentistry designs mouth guards that accommodate orthodontic treatment. For athletes with braces on the lower teeth, our doctors may also recommend a lower mouth guard.
Children should wear a mouth guard as soon as they begin playing organized sports or activities with a risk of falls or contact. For children ages 6 to 12 who still have a mix of baby and adult teeth, Gilreath Family Dentistry designs mouth guards that leave room for erupting teeth.
A properly fitted custom mouth guard has minimal effect on breathing and speaking. Its precise fit and slim profile mean less bulk in the mouth than generic guards. Athletes can breathe comfortably and communicate with coaches and teammates during play.
The process starts with a quick digital scan at our Marietta office, with no messy impressions. The mouth guard is then custom fabricated from the scan. Patients should plan ahead and schedule a fitting a few weeks before the season begins, so the guard is ready for the first practice.
Rinse the mouth guard before and after each use, and clean it regularly with a soft toothbrush and cool water. Store it in a ventilated case and keep it away from heat, which can warp the material. Bring it to dental checkups so our team can inspect it for wear.
No. A sports mouth guard is designed to absorb impact and protect the teeth during athletic activity. A night guard is designed to protect the teeth from grinding and clenching during sleep. Gilreath Family Dentistry offers both, custom-made to fit each patient’s needs.