Mouth guards in Stony Brook, NY

Many people come to us at Stony Brook Dental Group in Stony Brook, NY asking about mouth guards. They read about them online or have been referred by a doctor. At Stony Brook Dental Group, we have experts who have fit people with countless mouth guards over the years.

It seems like the main two questions people are concerned about are the types of mouth guards and their uses. Mouth guards can be stock, boil and bite, or custom-fitted. They’re mostly used in sleep apnea, bruxism, and snoring. Let’s look at this info in more detail.

Who Needs Mouth guards?

Physicians refer those with mild sleep apnea to us so we can fit them with custom mouth guards. While CPAP is considered the most effective treatment for sleep apnea, mouth guards are also a viable option for those with mild forms of the disease.

Mouth guards are tolerated better than CPAP, mostly because they’re easier to sleep in. Additionally, CPAP can cause nosebleeds and dry sinuses. Mouth guards are also easier to travel with. It’s for all these reasons that many patients prefer mouth guards to CPAP. It should be noted, however, that mouth guards alone can’t suffice in cases of severe sleep apnea.

We recommend mouth guards for people who grind their teeth too. Wearing them at night, when grinding is most prominent, can keep the teeth from harming each other and protect the jaw.

Types of Mouth guards

There are three prevalent types of mouth guards. Stock mouth guards are the ones you can buy online and are considered very cheap. These come in fixed sizes, so they’re not made with a specific individual in mind. If they don’t fit you properly, they’re going to be very irritating.

Boil and bite mouth guards are considered a compromise. They’re not as expensive as custom mouth guards, and they’re more flexible than stock ones. You put them in boiling water, then wear them, and they’ll adjust their form based on your teeth.

At Stony Brook Dental Group, the types of mouth guards we provide are custom ones. These are the best when it comes to function as well as comfort. If you need a mouth guard for your sleep apnea, bruxism or to play sports, give us a call to schedule a consultation.