When you’re a kid or an adult, playing sports comes with a few risks, including damage to your teeth. We’re proud of our smiles, and a bright, beautiful one gives a great first impression. Which is why your North Hollywood, CA, dentist helps safeguard smiles of all ages with a custom-made mouthguard, one that provides a better level of protection than one-size-fits-all alternatives.

Design with 3D Imaging Technology

How do we design and craft them? First, you or your child comes in for a consultation. We will use digital imaging technology to scan the smile, taking a series of images that we combine to create a custom 3D model. The model allows our team to design and craft your mouthguard. The guard them fits comfortably, and provides a greater level of protection than most boil-and-bite options you pick up at sporting goods stores.

Avoiding Injury

When you play sports or engage in any other activities that could lead to damaged teeth, such as martial arts, you should wear a mouthguard. The device helps reduce the risk of the teeth becoming chipped, cracked, or knocked-out. When our teeth are injured, this doesn’t just impact the esthetics of the smile. Even minor chips could expose the inner structures to harmful bacteria, increasing the risk of complications like tooth decay and dental infection. Not only does this lead to uncomfortable aches and pains, but you run the risk of eventually losing the tooth altogether without treatment!

When to Seek Treatment

If you do sustain an injury, don’t panic! If a tooth is chipped, see if you can recover any pieces and bring them with you to the office. If a tooth is knocked-out completely, pick it up by the crown, never touch the root. Place it in a glass of milk or salt water and bring it with you to the office. If you can’t do this, then place it gently back into the socket until we can see you. A cold compress to the side of the face could reduce swelling, and a washcloth could control bleeding. If you suffer an injury and no damage is visible, consider scheduling an appointment anyway, as dental fractures are often practically invisible to the naked eye, but could still increases the risk of an infection. If you have any questions about our mouthguards, or about addressing common dental emergencies, then contact our team today.

Do You Have Questions About Our Athletic Mouthguards?

Our team is ready to help protect your smile with a custom and comfortable athletic mouthguard. For more information on our preventive treatments, then schedule a consultation by calling Modern Smiles in North Hollywood, CA, today at 818-763-9353. We also proudly serve patients who live in Burbank, Toluca Lake, and all surrounding communities