It’s fall sports training time, and families across Nebraska are gearing up for football, soccer, volleyball, field hockey, and cheerleading. While uniforms, pads, and shoes are usually at the top of every athlete’s back-to-school shopping list, your child’s smile requires equal preparation.
A single unexpected hit or awkward collision can cause severe, irreversible dental trauma. At Greder Dental in Omaha, Nebraska, we want to help parents and athletes understand why custom-fitted sports mouthguards are an indispensable piece of athletic gear and an important part of the preventive dentistry services we provide.
The primary function of an athletic mouthguard is to act as a shock absorber for your mouth. During contact or high-velocity sports, sudden impact to the face or lower jaw can drive the lower teeth into the upper teeth with tremendous force, risking chipped, fractured, or knocked-out (avulsed) teeth.
The American Dental Association (ADA) reports that wearing a properly fitted mouthguard prevents an estimated 200,000 oral injuries each year in high school and college football alone. Research shows that athletes who don’t wear mouthguards are 60 times more likely to suffer damage to their teeth.
A high-quality mouthguard places a durable, cushioned barrier over the teeth, shielding enamel from direct impact and protecting vulnerable soft tissues — like the tongue, lips, and inner cheeks — from painful lacerations.
Many parents turn to inexpensive, boil-and-bite mouthguards from sporting goods stores as a quick solution. However, over-the-counter options suffer from serious limitations:
In contrast, Greder Dental can fit you with a custom mouthguard for contact sports that’s fabricated directly from precise digital impressions of your athlete’s bite.
Professional custom sports mouthguards stay securely locked in place without shifting, allowing athletes to speak, drink water, and breathe effortlessly throughout intense competition. When gear is comfortable, athletes are far more likely to wear it consistently.
Beyond protecting individual teeth, a custom athletic guard plays a crucial role in safeguarding the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and jaw structure. When an athlete sustains a blow to the chin, a custom guard cushions the impact between the upper and lower arch. This helps prevent jaw fractures, joint dislocation, and chronic TMJ trauma that could otherwise require extensive reconstructive care later in life.
Preventive care is always easier, less painful, and significantly more affordable than emergency dental surgery or complex restorations. By choosing a custom sports mouthguard, you’re making a proactive investment in your athlete’s oral health.
Don't wait for an emergency room visit to prioritize athletic mouth protection. Whether your child plays high-impact contact sports or limited-contact recreational athletics, our team can provide a comfortable, high-performance custom mouthguard tailored to their bite.
Explore our comprehensive preventive dentistry services at Greder Dental to keep your family's smiles healthy and strong. Contact our office today to schedule a mouthguard fitting.
