Sports / Mouth guards :

Sports guards are designed to protect your mouth and teeth from trauma (usually associated with sports), but can apply to any activity that could involve an injury to the mouth. These type of guards typically cover the upper teeth and offer cushion to a blow that could result in broken teeth, cuts or other trauma to your mouth. That being said, we must mention that there is no type of guard that will protect from all types of injury all of the time, please play safely. 

What Are the Different Types of Mouth Guards?
There are three main types of sports guards available. Custom guard (made by Old Hook Dental), Boil and Bite guards and Stock guards. Regardless of the type you use, there are some main features you should be looking for. It should be comfortable, whats the point in having one if you won't wear it due to it irritating you or restricting your ability to breathe? It should also be elastic, durable and tear resistant. 

Custom-made mouth guards: These are individually designed and made at Old Hook Dental or our dental laboratory. Obviously these will provide the best in comfort, fit and protection as they are made from quality materials uniquely for you. An impression of your teeth is used to pour a working model, the guard is then constructed using that model of your mouth as a guide. This is the protection method used by most athletes due to the superior fit and feel; plus they are available in a wide range of colors, patterns, decals and designs that increase the cool factor. 

Boil and bite mouth guards: These are sold in most pharmacies and sporting goods stores. The guard is fabricated by boiling it in water and biting into it while the material is still soft to make a more personalized fit. They are a more affordable alternative that falls into the middle range category, they offer a better fit than a stock mouth guard but not as good as a custom made for you. 

Stock mouth guards:  These are inexpensive and come pre-formed, ready to wear. Unfortunately, they often don't fit very well. They can be bulky and may make breathing and talking difficult.

Teeth Grinding and Night Guards :

Teeth grinding (Bruxism) affects many people - usually with stress being a major cause.  Grinding your teeth has a damaging effect that can result in breakage, a loss of enamel and sensitive teeth.  Pitting or holes on the chewing surface of the teeth or V shaped notches (abfractions) on the front are common findings.  As you lose tooth structure your bite changes which can lead to numerous dental problems along with difficulty chewing.  To further complicate matters, clenching your jaw in combination with grinding can cause TMJ clicking, popping and pain (Click here for more info on TMJ).  

There is no clear-cut scientific explanation of why we grind and clench, but stress has long been attributed as a correlating factor. Other than eliminating the source causing the stress, we can at least prevent you from clenching and protect your teeth from contacting. To accomplish this we fabricate you a Nightguard, which is custom made from a clear resin that fits your teeth precisely, rubber or combination of both. Wearing this guard nightly will prevent you from clenching, grinding and offer TMD sufferers relief from soreness, jaw aches and headaches. There are many different variations of night guards available based on your needs, we can discuss your options that will serve you best at your next appointment with Old Hook Dental.

Snore Guards and Sleep Apnea Devices :

Snoring is caused by the vibration of the soft tissues at the back of the throat because your jaw relaxes back during sleep compressing your airway. Repositioning your lower jaw down and slightly forward with the use of a mandibular advancement device (snore guard) can help to open your airway by reducing the constriction and thus reducing snoring; providing better breathing and a better nights' sleep.