Types of
Mouth Guards:
There are four basic types of mouth
guards. It is important to remember
that there are different levels of protection-quality and durability which vary
by mouth guard type.
- Stock Mouth Guards (Type I): Stock mouth guards are
ready to be worn without any preparation or alteration to the mouth guard
itself. These guards come in standard sizes (small, medium, and large) and
can be found at any sporting good store. This style of mouth guard has no
way of staying in place without the athlete consciously holding it in by
biting down, thus limiting speech and breathing ability, which make athletes
reluctant to wear them. They wear quickly and often need to be replaced a
few times during the duration of the athletic season.
- Boil-and-Bite Mouth Guards (Type II): Boil-and-Bite
mouth guards are prepared by boiling in water for a set amount of time and
then are formed to the mouth by the athlete applying pressure by biting and
pressing it into place with their fingers. These guards, available at most
sporting good stores, are currently the most used type of mouth guard. Since
it has some impression of the athlete’s mouth, it is a better guard than
the stock guards, but often is cut down too much to cover posterior teeth
adequately. These guards wear
quickly and often become too thin to offer adequate protection of an
athlete’s mouth.
- Vacuum-Formed Mouth Guards (Type III): Vacuum-formed
guards must be fabricated by a dentist and cannot be bought by any other
method. These guards are made
from a cast of the athlete’s mouth. Since Type III mouth guards are formed
specifically to the mouth of the athlete, they are much more comfortable and
facilitate easier breathing and talking than either of the previous two
guards. Dentist-designed, these guards cover all
teeth adequately and do not have to be replaced as often as either of the
previous styles. However, they are more expensive since they are made by the
dentist specifically for the athlete. Fees vary by dental office.
- Pressure-Laminate Mouth Guards (Type IV): Laminate
mouth guards offer multiple-layer protection for the athlete’s mouth.
These are the newest and most superior of the mouth guard styles.
The thickness of this mouth guard is more efficient at spreading out
and lessening impact forces, thus reducing the severity of injury. This is
the most expensive guard, but offers the best protection against oral injury
and concussion. Laminate mouth guards must be custom-made in a dental office
or a commercial laboratory. Fees vary by dental office or commercial
manufacturer.