Kathryn Kennedy, DDS

Dentist in Westmont, IL

(630) 810-9940

331 W. 63rd St. Westmont, IL 60559

Westmont Dentist | Mouthguards | Sportsguards | Bite Splints

Dr. Kathryn Kennedy, DDS in Westmont, IL provides comprehensive dental care including oral appliances such as mouthguards. There are several different types of mouthguards available and in this section, we will briefly give you an overview of those different options.

WHAT TYPES OF MOUTHGUARDS ARE THERE?

Prior to doing an impression for any mouthguard, it’s important to make sure that all your dental work is completed prior to fabricating it so it will still fit into the future. This is especially important if you are planning on having braces or dental implants in the near future. Secondly, since there are numerous types of mouthguards, it’s important to understand what its purpose is and the final objective.

SPORTSGUARDS

are a common type of mouthguard. These are designed to protect your teeth from trauma while playing sports. There are several different types of sports guards depending upon whether you are protecting from punches as in boxing, or blunt trauma from a bicycle accident or basketball injury from an elbow. Each sport requires a different amount of firmness or resilience to protect trauma. Because there are three levels of guards available, it is important to understand WHY you might want to invest in a little more professional version as opposed to just going online and purchasing one.

The stock mouthguards -small, medium, and large size that you can purchase from a sporting goods store tend to be bulky, make it difficult to breath, and often provide minimal protection.

The boil-and-bite type of mouthguards are placed into hot water to soften them and then those are shaped around the teeth using the tongue and lips. While these are better, they still have limited value.

The custom-fitted mouth guards that are made via an impression in a dental office, offer the most comfort and best protection of all of these.

NIGHT GRINDING APPLIANCES

are a different style and design. There are a variety of design options and styles for this as well. Depending upon your teeth that you have remaining, it could be any of several different styles. The purpose of these it to minimize the clenching and grinding of teeth, often referred to as “bruxism”. If this is not treated, it can lead to either problems with or soreness in the temporomandibular joint – also known as the TMJ, or can contribute to migraines or muscle aches.

SNORING APPLIANCES and SLEEP APNEA APPLIANCES

are more advanced appliances that are designed to help open the airway, generally by advancing the lower jaw forward to allow a freer flowing of air in the back of the throat. There are a variety of styles for these and again, it depends upon the diagnosis, the cause of the snoring or sleep apnea and how many teeth are in your mouth as to which design your dentist might use to create the appliance.

Before you run off to the drugstore or online to purchase any of these appliances, it would be a good idea to check with us to help you determine the correct one that will best fit you and your lifestyle. An improper fitting one, or the wrong design can actually make the condition worse. Contact Dr. Kathryn Kennedy to get an evaluation on the right mouthguard for you!