Mouthguards

Properly protecting your teeth helps you maintain a healthy, functional, and gorgeous smile with a lower risk of oral health complications. At Smile Structure Dentistry and Braces, with four locations in San Antonio and an office in Helotes, Texas, the dental team offers custom-fitted mouthguards to keep your teeth and smile beautiful. Schedule an evaluation by phone or request an appointment online today to get fitted for a protective mouthguard.

What are mouthguards?

Mouthguards are custom-fitted appliances that fit over the entire surface of your teeth to protect them from damage. Numerous forms of mouthguards exist. Some protect your teeth when playing contact sports, while others protect your teeth from grinding at night while you sleep. 

Regardless of which type of mouthguard you need, the Smile Structure Dentistry and Braces team is here to help. 

Who should get a dental mouthguard?

You may use a mouthguard for one or more of the following:

Sports

Wearing a mouthguard over your teeth when playing sports, particularly contact sports, protects them from chips, cracks, and even becoming loose or getting knocked out. 

Sleep apnea

Wearing an oral appliance when you sleep helps reposition your jaw to improve airflow. Nighttime oral appliances can reduce bothersome symptoms of sleep apnea, such as snoring and excessive daytime fatigue. They also increase the amount of oxygen you breathe in while sleeping. 

Bruxism (teeth grinding)

You may clench your jaw and grind your teeth at night due to stress or other reasons. Wearing a mouthguard protects your teeth from damage caused by grinding. 

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder

If you have TMJ pain because of teeth grinding, clenching your jaw during sleep, or a family history of jaw issues, wearing a mouthguard at night helps reduce jaw pain, clicking and popping sounds, and other uncomfortable jaw issues. 

Which mouthguard is right for me?

The Smile Structure Dentistry and Braces experts discuss your symptoms, oral health history, and goals to determine which type of mouthguard is best for you. They also examine your gums and teeth and may take dental X-rays. 

What should I expect when getting fitted for mouthguards?

Your Smile Structure Dentistry and Braces provider takes a mold of your teeth or digitally scans them, allowing a dental lab to create a custom-fitted mouthguard. When the mouthguard is ready, you can wear it when playing contact sports or while sleeping. Keep your mouthguard clean and take good care of it to protect your oral appliance from damage.

Schedule an evaluation at Smile Structure Dentistry and Braces by phone or online today to get fitted for mouthguards.