Appliance Therapy in Stony Brook, NY

If you play sports, indulge in outdoor or physical activities, or suffer from teeth-grinding or sleep apnea, wearing mouth guards can help protect your teeth from damage, wear and tear. Our skilled dentist near you explains the different types of mouth guards and the benefits of wearing them.

What Is a Mouth Guard?

A mouth guard is made of resilient material and fits all the teeth in your dental arch comfortably. You can clean them using toothpaste and a toothbrush, and they are designed to reduce forces during high-energy impact.

Statistics indicate that more than 67 percent of people don’t wear mouth guards while playing sports. Injuries that can occur in the absence of a mouth guard include chipped and knocked-out teeth, cracked bridges and crowns, damage to gums and tooth roots, and broken jaws.

Please call our dentist in Stony Brook, NY, for more information about reliable appliance therapy near you.

Types of Mouth Guards

You can choose from three main types of mouth guards, including stock, boil and bite and custom-fitted models.

Stock Mouth Guards: These are readymade, generic mouth guards available over-the-counter.

Boil-and-Bite Mouth Guards: You need to boil these and then fit them onto your teeth. They offer a better fit than stock ones but are less comfortable compared to custom-fitted mouth guards.

Custom-Fitted Mouth Guards: These stay put without patients having to keep their mouths closed. Moreover, we prepare custom-fitted mouth guards while keeping your specific dental requirements in mind. Custom-fitted mouth guards also protect any prosthetics or braces in the oral cavity.

We will send precise impressions of your teeth to a dental lab for fabrication. Our dentist in Stony Brook, NY, will examine the appliance for fit and comfort.

Why You Should Wear Mouth Guards

Custom-fitted mouth guards can protect your teeth while playing competitive and recreational sports and prevent wearing down of enamel due to teeth-grinding. They help reduce tension in the jaw (which may cause TMJ problems) and are also useful for patients who suffer from sleep apnea.

We encourage patients to call our office for personalized appliance therapy in Stony Brook, NY.