A custom-made boxing mouthguard is a teeth protector that gives the highest level of protection and comfort in combat and contact sports. The impressions take about 30 min at the clinic and are painless, and the laboratory needs about 3 days to make the mouthguard.
What are teeth protectors for?
Teeth protectors, better known as boxing mouthguards, are widely used both in combat sports (boxing, kickboxing, MMA, etc.) and in some contact sports (rugby, ice hockey, basketball, etc.). Their main role is to protect the teeth and gums from injuries caused by blows to this area.
Such blows very often lead to a broken or even knocked-out tooth, and in more serious cases to several teeth at once. For this reason mouthguards are a mandatory part of professional athletes’ equipment. They are also widely used by children, where they prevent injuries from falls.
What types of boxing mouthguards are there?
There is a very wide variety of boxing mouthguards on the market. They come in 3 main types.
1. Ready-made teeth protectors
They are widely available and cheap, but that is where their advantages end. They are made in a standard, ready-made shape and do not fit closely to the individual shape of the athlete’s teeth. This causes breathing problems and an insufficient level of protection.
2. Gel or boil-and-bite teeth protectors
They are again widely available and fairly affordable. They all work on the same principle: a ready-made soft or heat-softened material is bitten into and shaped in place on the athlete’s teeth. This type of mouthguard gives a medium level of comfort and protection.
3. Custom-made boxing mouthguards
These are the protectors with the highest level of protection and comfort, because they are made to the individual characteristics of the athlete’s teeth and bite.
How is a custom-made boxing mouthguard made and how long does it take?
To make such a mouthguard, impressions of the upper and lower jaw and of the bite need to be taken. This takes about 30 min at the clinic and is not painful. After that, the dental laboratory needs about 3 days to make the mouthguard.
The price is individual — it depends on the particular mouthguard and is set after an examination at the clinic.
What can custom-made mouthguards be like?
Depending on individual requirements, they can be single-layer, made of an elastic material, or double- and triple-layer, where the mouthguard is a combination of a harder material on the outside and a softer part against the teeth.
Depending on the sport, the protectors can cover only the upper jaw or both jaws at once. Besides the standard clear version, they can have a special colour, pictures or lettering, which makes them even more individual.
Mouthguards made in this way provide the highest possible level of protection and at the same time are slim and comfortable, without making breathing difficult. A drawback is their higher price, but it is justified given the unpleasant experience of losing or breaking a tooth and the many times higher cost of treating it.
Frequently asked questions
Which sports is a boxing mouthguard suitable for?
For combat sports (boxing, kickboxing, MMA, etc.) and some contact sports (rugby, ice hockey, basketball, etc.). It is also used by children, where it prevents injuries from falls.
What types of boxing mouthguards are there?
Three main types: ready-made teeth protectors, gel or boil-and-bite protectors, and custom-made boxing mouthguards.
Why is a custom-made mouthguard better?
It is made to the individual characteristics of the athlete’s teeth and bite, so it gives the highest level of protection and comfort and does not make breathing difficult.
How long does it take to make a custom-made mouthguard?
About 30 min at the clinic for painless impressions, and about 3 days for the dental laboratory to make the mouthguard.
What can a custom-made mouthguard be like?
Single-layer made of an elastic material, or double- and triple-layer, covering only the upper jaw or both jaws, clear or with a special colour, pictures and lettering.