Mouthguards For Adolescents
Mouthguards for Adolescents in Mission, TX
Adolescence can be a tricky time in anyone’s life, but it’s natural to want to protect your teen and pre-teen’s health in any way you can. One way to protect your older child’s smile against physical trauma is by asking them to wear a protective mouthguard during sports and at night.
Clover Hills Dentistry proudly serves the Mission, TX, area with quality dental services. Dr. Alexander Ochoa Falla keeps an eye on the effects of teeth grinding and actively protects preteen and teen smiles with sports guards and nightguards.
Click here to schedule your next adolescent dental appointment.
We’re lucky to serve pre-teens and teens.
Sports Guard vs. Nightguard: Which should my kid wear?
Patients of all ages regularly mistake mouthguards for nightguards (and vice versa). But each type of protective mouthguard serves different purposes.
If your kid has ever been a part of a football team or learned martial arts, their coach likely asked them to wear an athletic mouthguard as part of their uniform. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), mouthguards reduce the risk of sports-related injuries, including concussions. Dr. Ochoa recommends wearing an athletic mouthguard if your young athlete plays high-collision or velocity sports.
Another reason why older children wear mouthguards is to protect their smiles against bruxism. Bruxism is the medical term for grinding teeth and jaw clenching and is prevalent among young people because of dental misalignment, emotional and physical stress, and medical reasons. Even though some kids outgrow bruxism, a nightguard is a proven way to protect their teeth against physical damage, including sore facial muscles, eroded enamel, and fractured teeth.
Healthy Habits are Built on Strong Foundations
Delivering dental care with empathy and kindness is vital to patients of ages. Once you step into the dental operatory, here’s what your preteen or teen can expect:
Examination
Before suggesting a nightguard or athletic mouthguard for your preteen or teen, Dr. Ochoa will look for visual indications of bruxism and ask questions about lifestyle. If they play sports, have a high-stress life, or have signs of wear and tear on their dental surfaces, Dr. Ochoa might suggest either type of mouthguard to protect your teen’s smile from further damage and potentially improve quality of life.
Preparation
Before creating a custom-made nightguard or athletic mouthguard, we must take impressions of your teen’s smile. This ensures a snug fit so the mouthguard won’t slip out of place while they sleep or play sports.
Lab Creation
After capturing detailed impressions of your teen’s alignment, we send their information to our private dental laboratory for creation.
Fitting
The custom mouthguard will return to our Mission dental office within a week or two. We will call your teen back in for a final fitting and adjustment (if needed).
Serving Mission, TX: Clover Hills Dentistry is a Quality Dental Care Experience for the Whole Family
At Clover Hills Dentistry, we pride ourselves on having a friendly and knowledgeable staff. Our team is committed to providing quality care in a supportive and comfortable environment so your preteen or teen can feel at ease during their dental visit. Is your kid due for a dental appointment? Don’t delay! Call 956-997-9799 or send us a short message online to schedule an appointment at Clover Hills Dentistry in Mission, TX.