Geshay Pediatric Dentistry, P.C.
Uniontown, PA
  • Home
  • About Our Practice
    • Welcome
    • Introduction
    • Practice Philosophy
    • Our Practice
    • Our Office
    • Community Choice Awards
    • Advanced Technology
    • Infection Control & Sterilization
  • First Visit
    • Welcome
    • Why A Pediatric Dentist?
    • Infant Exams
    • Importance of Primary Teeth
    • Everything A Parent Should Know Brochure
    • First Visit – What To Expect
    • Words We Use
    • What Should I Tell My Child?
    • Book Suggestions
    • New Patient Forms
  • Emergencies
    • Emergency Information
    • Knocked-out Permanent Tooth
  • Patient Info
    • Welcome
    • Scheduling
    • Financial Policy
    • Insurance
    • Privacy Policy
    • Words We Use
    • Early Infant Care
    • Everything a New Parent Should Know
    • The Right Way to Use a Nursing Bottle
    • Tooth Cleaning Starts in the Crib
    • Thumb Sucking & Pacifier Habits are to be Eased Out
    • Caring For Teeth
    • Special Needs
    • Behavioral Management and Pain Control
    • Sedation Techniques
    • Emergency Info
  • Pediatric Dentistry
    • Topics & Faqs
    • Pregnancy & Your Child
    • Baby Bottle Decay
    • Bottles & Nursing at Bedtime
    • Tooth Development Chart
    • Digit & Pacifier Habits
    • Teething
    • Early Infant Care
    • Early Decay – Cause & Prevention
    • Brushing & Flossing
      • Brushing & Flossing
      • Instructions
    • Speech & Language Milestones
    • Flouride
    • Sealants
    • Pulpotomy Procedure
    • Mouthguards
    • Links
  • Patient Handouts
    • Anticipatory Guidance – Infants
    • Anticipatory Guidance – Toddlers
    • Anticipatory Guidance – Preschool & School Age
    • Nursing Bottle Decay Brochure
    • Tooth Eruption Guide
    • Language Development Milestones
    • Brushing & Flossing Guide
    • Halitosis
    • Smokeless Tobacco
    • Calcium Supplementation
    • MI Paste – Recalcification
    • PH of Common Foods & Drinks
  • Orthodontics
    • Removable Appliances
    • Type of Bites
    • Classification of the Teeth
  • Meet Us
    • Meet Dr. Geshay
    • Meet Dr. Wach
    • Meet Dr. Borandi
    • Meet Our Team
    • Community Choice Awards
    • Virtual Tour
    • Patient Testimonials
  • Fun & Games
    • Coloring Book
    • The Fun Eggsperiment
    • Sugarbug Doug Book
    • Book Suggestions
    • Toothbrushing Calendars
    • Thumbsuckers Anonymous Calendar
    • Thumbsuckers Anonymous Certificate
    • Connect to PBHS Games
  • Online Forms
  • Contact Us

Mouthguards

Mouth guards, also known as sports guards or athletic mouth protectors, are crucial pieces of equipment for any child participating in potentially injurious recreational or sporting activities.  Fitting snugly over the upper teeth, mouth guards protect the entire oral region from traumatic injury, preserving both the esthetic appearance and the health of the smile.  In addition, mouth guards are sometimes used to prevent tooth damage in children who grind (bruxism) their teeth at night.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) in particular, advocates  the use of dental mouth guards during any sporting or recreational activity.  Most store-bought mouth guards cost fewer than ten dollars, making them a perfect investment for every parent.

How can mouth guards protect my child?

The majority of sporting organizations now require that participants routinely wear mouth guards.  Though mouth guards are primarily designed to protect the teeth, they can also vastly reduce the degree of force transmitted from a trauma impact point (jaw) to the central nervous system (base of the brain).  In this way, mouth guards help minimize the risk of traumatic brain injury, which is especially important for younger children.

Mouth guards also reduce the prevalence of the following injuries:

  • Cheek lesions
  • Concussions
  • Gum and soft tissue injuries
  • Jawbone fractures
  • Lip lesions
  • Neck injuries
  • Tongue lesions
  • Tooth fractures

What type of mouth guard should I purchase for my child?

Though there are literally thousands of mouth guard brands, most brands fall into three major categories: stock mouth guards, boil and bite mouth guards, and customized mouth guards.

Some points to consider when choosing a mouth guard include:

  • How much money is available to spend?
  • How often does the child play sports?
  • What kind of sport does the child play? (Basketball and baseball tend to cause the most oral injuries).

In light of these points, here is an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of mouth guard:

Stock mouth guards – These mouth guards can be bought directly off the shelf and immediately fitted into the child’s mouth.  The fit is universal (one-size-fits-all), meaning that that the mouth guard doesn’t adjust.  Stock mouth guards are very cheap, easy to fit, and quick to locate at sporting goods stores.  Pediatric dentists favor this type of mouth guard least, as it provides minimal protection, obstructs proper breathing and speaking, and tends to be uncomfortable.

Boil and bite mouth guards – These mouth guards are usually made from thermoplastic and are easily located at most sporting goods stores.  First, the thermoplastic must be immersed in hot water to make it pliable, and then it must be pressed on the child’s teeth to create a custom mold.  Boil and bite mouth guards are slightly more expensive than stock mouth guards, but tend to offer more protection, feel more comfortable in the mouth, and allow for easy speech production and breathing.

Customized mouth guards – These mouth guards offer the greatest degree of protection, and are custom-made by the dentist.  First, Dr. Geshay makes an impression of the child’s teeth using special material, and then the mouth guard is constructed over the mold.  Customized mouth guards are more expensive and take longer to fit, but are more comfortable, orthodontically correct, and fully approved by the pediatric dentists.

If you have questions or concerns about choosing a mouth guard for your child, please contact our office.

Pediatric Dentistry

  • Topics & Faqs
  • Pregnancy & Your Child
  • Baby Bottle Decay
  • Bottles & Nursing at Bedtime
  • Tooth Development Chart
  • Digit & Pacifier Habits
  • Teething
  • Early Infant Care
  • Early Decay – Cause & Prevention
  • Brushing & Flossing
    • Brushing & Flossing
    • Instructions
  • Speech & Language Milestones
  • Flouride
  • Sealants
  • Pulpotomy Procedure
  • Mouthguards
  • Links
Schedule
An
Appointment
 
  • Home
  • Home
  • About Our Practice
  • First Visit
  • Emergencies
  • Patient Info
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Patient Handouts
  • Orthodontics
  • Meet Us
  • Fun & Games
  • Online Forms
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Sitemap

Geshay Pediatric Dentistry, P.C. • Address: 634 Pittsburgh Road Uniontown PA 15401 • Phone: Uniontown Office Phone Number 724-439-1576 • Fax: 724-438-7007

Dental Website Design by PBHS © 2023