Pre-formed Mouth Guard vs Custom Mouth Guard

Apr 03, 2022

Pre-formed mouthguards are not customized for the patient. Thus, it will no longer protect the teeth if you move their jaws while sleeping. However, if you have a teeth-grinding habit, a custom-fit mouthguard is the best option for your teeth and mouth.

Pediatric Dentists usually recommend custom-fitted mouthguards Bloomfield, CT for those that grind teeth at night or while participating in sports activities. The expert usually makes them depending on how you want to use them.

Pre-Formed Mouth Guards

Pre-formed mouthguards are available to use immediately after opening the package. They are available at online retailers, drug stores, and pharmacies. They are shaped into a smooth u-shaped tray. Boil them for some time to make the plastic soft and flexible and let them cool.

After some time, now put the mouthguard in your mouth carefully and gently bite down into the half-melted plastic. It will mold the guard to the shape of your tooth line. They are available in small, medium, and large size options depending on the age.

Pre-formed guards cover the entire top row of your teeth while preventing the upper and lower teeth from grinding. The majority of them are fitted via a boil and bite method. To avoid gum irritation, you need to make some adjustments with scissors or a razor blade.

The major disadvantage of off-the-shelf teeth grinding and sports mouthguards are manufactured using thin plastic. Thus, you need to take precautions when molding the guard to your teeth.

Custom-Fit Mouthguards

Custom-fitted mouthguards are an excellent solution for the patient. They are manufactured for their owner uniquely. You can purchase them at a mouthguard company and almost all dental offices near you.

For the custom mouthguard, the dental expert will take your teeth impression digitally using an intraoral 3D scanner or conventional tray loaded with impression material.

It helps to match the teeth and gum line while offering a great fit to the patient. The biggest advantage is that they require little to zero adjustments. However, patients need to replace custom-fit mouthguards after several years, depending on the wear and tear and changes to the mouth.

Custom Mouthguards vs. Preformed Mouthguards

Below are the major differences between store-bought guards and custom fit guards:

A pre-formed mouthguard creates the general shape of the tooth lining. But in the case of custom-fit mouthguards, it makes an exact mold of the patient’s smile. The dental professional transfers the personalized impression to the laboratory for manufacturing.
Custom mouthguards are manufactured precisely for the wearer. Therefore, they offer optimal comfort, durability, and safety. It is something that performed mouthguards cannot provide. They only stay in their position when you shut your mouth.
There is also a chance that you will misplace the store-bought guard because it may not fit properly in the mouth. It results in making the guard lose or fall out. However, it is not the case with a custom mouthguard.
Custom-fit mouth guards near you are made from thick thermoplastic material. However, the material used for pre-formed mouthguard manufacturing is thin.
Store-bought mouthguards may interfere with breathing and can also dampen your speech.
Patients need to replace pre-formed mouthguards more often as compared to custom mouthpieces. Also, many of the store-bought guards will look the same. Therefore, you could take the guard of another individual by mistake.

The pediatric dentist Bloomfield CT can adjust the thickness of a custom guard depending on how much you clench or grind your teeth. It helps you accomplish a natural fit without the need to make adjustments on your own. Dentists usually fit custom guards for the upper teeth. But you can also get a guard installed for your bottom teeth.