Mouth Guards in Lakewood Ranch, FL
We believe in hugging your dentist after you get your perfect smile.
What are Mouth Guards For?
Custom-fit mouth guards are prescribed and created by a dental professional from thermoplastic material and are based on a detailed mold taken of your mouth and teeth. They can be made for either sports or for nighttime teeth grinding and are created differently depending on the intended use. The American Dental Association predicts that roughly 2 million teeth are lost during athletic competition per year, making mouthguards a necessity for contact sports. They’re highly personalized, as your dentist can adjust the thickness of the mouth guard, and they’re designed to fit perfectly in your mouth with no adjustments needed.
How is a Mouth Guard Made?
First, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth. This is generally done using a dental putty that forms to all the crevices of each tooth and creates an exact mold of your smile. The mold is then sent to the lab, where the actual mouth guard is created. The structure is made by layering superheated plastic to precise specifications and is then cooled to create an extremely durable piece of dental wear.
Benefits of Mouth Guards
There are several benefits for mouth guards for both sports-related and nighttime-related uses:
- Reduces the risk of concussion from lower jaw impacts while play sports
- Sports mouth guards protect teeth from being knocked out or fractured
- Provides a comfortable fit allowing for natural breathing and speaking
- Prevents jaw fractures by acting as a cushion between upper and lower jaw
- Meets all High School and Collegiate sports regulations
Because custom mouth guards are so precisely made, they are able to provide you with optimal safety and comfort, as opposed to the bulky, confining “boil and bite” guards of old. The level of protection afforded by custom-fitted mouth guards is unrivaled by any other mouth guard, and their durability is enhanced by the snug shape, which hugs each tooth closely, eliminating unwanted movement and any need for adjustment.
For more information on customized mouth guards, please call Smiles at Lakewood Ranch at 941-216-3803 today.
Learn more about Oral Health at Smiles at Lakewood Ranch
Bad Breath
If you suffer from chronic bad breath, your dentist can help identify the cause and, if it's due to an oral condition, he or she will develop a treatment plan to help eliminate it. Regular checkups will allow your dentist to detect any problems such as periodontal disease, a dry mouth or other disorders.
The mouth is often considered a window to the rest of the body because many other illnesses first present themselves as changes within the mouth. As a result, a comprehensive oral exam is recommended each time you visit a new practice to serve as a benchmark of your overall health.
Fluoride
Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and especially tap water. This mineral helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque and sugars in the mouth. It attracts other minerals and strengthens tooth enamel.
Gentle Professional Cleanings
People over the age of four or five should visit their dentist for a professional teeth cleaning at least twice a year. To maintain oral health, it is very important that you stay current on the condition of your teeth so that if problems are detected, they can be treated early to avoid developing more serious issues.
At Smiles at Lakewood Ranch, we provide comfortable, gentle teeth cleanings, specifically to detect, deter and prevent gum disease. If we find a cause for concern, we may recommend a deep gum cleaning to remove tartar below the gum line, smooth out surfaces where plaque builds up and eliminate bacterial infection.
Mouth Guards
Custom-fit mouth guards are prescribed and created by a dental professional from thermoplastic material and are based on a detailed mold taken of your mouth and teeth. They can be made for either sports or for nighttime teeth grinding and are created differently depending on the intended use. They're highly personalized, as your dentist can adjust the thickness of the mouth guard, and they're designed to fit perfectly in your mouth with no adjustments needed.
Night Guards
If you’re experiencing chronic headaches and migraines because of involuntary night-time teeth clenching, let Smiles at Lakewood Ranch help you with a night guard. A night guard is a thin, transparent device that is worn over the biting surface of your teeth while you sleep to prevent contact between the upper and lower teeth. Night guards have also proven to be an effective remedy for patients who are suffering from the effects of grinding and clenching their teeth while sleeping.
Oral Cancer Screening
The dental community is the first line of defense in early detection of oral cancer. The goal of oral cancer screenings is to detect mouth cancer or precancerous lesions that may lead to mouth cancer at an early stage when cancer or lesions are easiest to remove and most likely to be cured. When found at the early stages of development, oral cancers have an 80-90% survival rate. Early detection is imperative!
Sealants
Dental sealants consist of a plastic material that is placed on the chewing surface of the permanent back teeth, molars, and premolars to help protect them from bacteria and acids that contribute to tooth decay. Because of the likelihood of developing decay in the depressions and grooves of the premolars and molars, children and teenagers are candidates for sealants. However, adults without decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from sealants.
Tooth Sensitivity
If hot, cold, sweet or very acidic foods and drinks, or breathing in cold air, makes your teeth painful, then you may have tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity can come and go over time. It occurs when the enamel that protects your teeth gets thinner, or when gum recession occurs, exposing the underlying surface, the dentin, and reducing the protection the enamel and gums provide to the tooth and root.
You deserve to smile big and laugh around friends and family.
A Beautiful Smile Restored!
In this Smiles at Lakewood Ranch case study, our patient Rosetta explains how she had an accident and broke her front tooth. Another dentist told her some bad news and, wow, is she glad she came to the experts at Smiles at Lakewood Ranch instead!
Reach out to us today - Because you deserve a confident smile!
We believe in life-changing dentistry. Call us today at 941-216-3803 to talk about getting the smile of your dreams! You can also use the contact form to email us.
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