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When back-to-school season rolls around in Grove City, families are busy gathering school supplies, organizing schedules, and pulling out sports gear. If your child plays football, soccer, field hockey, or another fall sport, you’ve probably already checked the essentials: cleats, shin guards, and of course, a helmet. But there’s one piece of protective gear that often gets overlooked – the athletic mouthguard.
At Southwest Dentistry, we’ve seen firsthand how vital mouthguards are for protecting young athletes. Helmets protect the head, but only a well-made mouthguard provides the level of dental protection your child truly needs on the field. Let’s look at why this small piece of equipment makes such a big difference.
Why Helmets Aren’t Enough for Fall Sports
Helmets are essential in contact sports like football or ice hockey, but they don’t cover everything. A helmet can’t stop a sudden impact from causing dental injuries such as chipped or knocked-out teeth. It also doesn’t prevent the jaw from slamming shut during contact, which can damage soft tissue or even lead to dental trauma.
According to the American Dental Association, athletes who don’t wear a mouthguard are up to 60 times more likely to suffer harm to their teeth. That’s why many coaches and sports organizations require sports mouthguards for football, lacrosse, martial arts, and field hockey. Even in less obvious contact sports like basketball or water polo, a stray elbow, ball, or fall can cause serious damage.
The Custom Fit Advantage
You’ve probably seen inexpensive “boil-and-bite” mouthguards at the sporting goods store. While they’re accessible, they don’t offer the same levels of protection as custom-made versions.
Here’s why:
- Custom Fit: At Southwest Dentistry, we create custom mouthguards using an accurate impression of your child’s teeth. This ensures a snug fit that covers all peripheral areas and doesn’t slip during play.
- Comfort Matters: Store-bought guards are often bulky, making it harder for kids to talk or breathe. Custom guards are designed with comfort in mind, encouraging consistent use.
- Durability: Materials like ethylene-vinyl acetate provide stronger resistance against impact force, helping the guard last longer through the season.
- Better Protection: Because they fit precisely, custom guards distribute the impact force more evenly, reducing the chance of serious dental trauma.
Think of it this way: you wouldn’t send your child onto the field in shoes that don’t fit. Their mouthguard deserves the same level of care.
Types of Mouthguards: Finding the Right Level of Protection
Not every athletic activity carries the same risk. That’s why there are different types of mouthguards available:
- Custom Mouthguards – Professionally made at your dentist’s office using your child’s dental impressions. These offer the highest level of protection, comfort, and durability.
- Boil-and-Bite Mouthguards – Molded at home by softening in hot water. Better than stock versions, but often uncomfortable and inconsistent in coverage.
- Stock Mouthguards – Pre-formed and inexpensive, but they rarely fit well and provide the lowest level of protection.
For young athletes, especially those in contact sports like football, ice hockey, or martial arts, a custom mouthguard is the gold standard.
Extra Protection for Braces and Orthodontics
If your child has braces or orthodontic brackets and wires, a properly fitted mouthguard is even more important. A hit to the face can not only injure the teeth but also cut the lips or cheeks against the hardware. Custom guards made around arch wires provide the extra space and smooth surface needed to keep the mouth safe during sports.
Why Parents in Grove City Choose Southwest Dentistry
We know that when it comes to your child, you want the very best care. At Southwest Dentistry, we bring together modern dental technology with a compassionate approach to create solutions that truly fit your family’s needs.
Our process for athletic mouthguards is simple and reassuring:
- Personalized Exam – We start with a checkup to make sure your child’s smile is healthy and ready for sports.
- Accurate Impression – Using advanced techniques, we take a precise model of your child’s teeth.
- Custom Creation – The guard is crafted for exact fit, comfort, and durability.
- Final Fitting – We make sure your child can speak, breathe, and play with ease while wearing it.
The result? A custom piece of equipment that your child will actually want to wear — and one that you can trust to protect their smile.
Prevention Comes First
Every season, we treat young athletes who have suffered avoidable injuries because they weren’t wearing a mouthguard, or were using one that didn’t fit. A single chipped tooth or lost crown can require extensive treatment, from restorative dentistry to long-term maintenance. Prevention through a custom mouthguard is a simple, affordable way to avoid those stressful moments.
Just like regular dental hygiene exams and sealants, mouthguards are part of a broader preventive plan. When we pair early protection with ongoing care, your child has the best chance of keeping a healthy, confident smile for years to come.
Protecting Smiles, Building Confidence
As parents, you’re not only protecting your child’s smile; you’re also giving them the confidence to play their sport at full speed, without hesitation. That kind of peace of mind is worth more than any piece of equipment on the shelf.
At Southwest Dentistry, we believe that quality dental care isn’t just about fixing problems – it’s about preventing them. With custom mouthguards, we help your young athletes stay safe, healthy, and focused on what matters most: enjoying the game.
Ready to Gear Up for the Season?
If your child is gearing up for fall sports, now is the perfect time to schedule a visit. Let’s make sure their teeth are protected with a custom mouthguard designed just for them.
Contact Southwest Dentistry in Grove City today to schedule an appointment.