Do I really need a custom-made mouthguard or will an over the counter one do?
I am often asked this question, I have laid out some facts to help you make your choice.
The RFU strongly recommend that mouthguards are worn for any contact rugby sessions and that such mouthguards should be custom fitted (https://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/players/player-health/player-health-faqs/)
The reality is that boil and mould or over the counter alternatives tend not to fit effectively and give a reduced level of protection. Its not uncommon to see children with their mouthguard hanging out in their earlier years!
A mouthguard protects the mouth from injury and distributes impact evenly throughout the mouth. Simply put, it reduces the chance of injury. Studies indicate that wearing one can reduce hard and soft tissue injury, jaw fractures and spinal injury.
Over the counter
As these are not custom made they tend to be constructed from a thinner type of plastic to suit different people. They tend to be boiled and moulded to the shape of your teeth and jaw. The general downside to this is that because they are thinner you must ensure that when moulded they are not bitten through.
This type of guard is only suitable if well-constructed and actually stays in the mouth. Its benefit of course is the cost, its relatively less expensive than a custom made one and takes no time to construct.
Custom made
These are prescribed and custom made by a dental professional, they are highly personalised and fabricated from a model of your teeth and jaws. They tend to be made from thick thermoplastic material. The design will fit your teeth perfectly and adjustments can be simply made. They are comfortable and provide optimal safety. There is absolutely no comparison with the accuracy of fit compared to an over the counter guard.
The aim is to create a barrier between the upper and lower jaws to prevent a crashing impact as well as reduce the risk of an external object injury.
A custom-made mouthguard can
The downside is the cost, essentially a dental professional is required to take an impression, create a mould and a dental laboratory usually fabricated the mouthguard, although the biological cost of toothless or trauma may be far greater.
- For further information http://melonieprebble.co.uk/