Sports Guards Collingwood

Custom Mouthguard at Peaks Family Dentistry in Collingwood

At Peaks Family Dentistry Collingwood, we offer professionally made sports guards and custom mouthguards for patients of all ages in Collingwood. Whether you're gearing up for a season of sports or simply want to safeguard your teeth during physical activity, our custom mouthguards are designed to fit comfortably and provide the protection you need.

Getting started is simple—just give us a call to book a fitting. We’re proud to support local teams and athletes, and we’re happy to arrange group fittings if several teammates or your entire team would like custom mouthguards.

Choosing a dental clinic for your custom mouthguard ensures a level of quality and protection that over- the-counter options can’t match. A personalized fit means better comfort, improved safety, and a reduced risk of oral injuries. And because accidents can happen, we also provide emergency dental services, so you’ll have access to prompt care if a dental injury occurs during a game—or anytime.

What is a Custom Mouthguard or Sports Guard?

Sports guards and custom mouthguards in Collingwood are essential protective devices designed to safeguard your teeth and jaw during physical activities. The terms “Mouthguard” and “Sports Guard” both refer to the same piece of equipment—a small dental appliance made from resins, natural rubbers,or polyurethane that helps prevent dental injuries and reduce the risk of concussions while playing sports.

A custom mouthguard is precisely crafted to fit the unique shape of your mouth, jaw contour, and teeth spacing. At Peaks Family Dentistry Collingwood, our custom mouthguards are professionally made by a dental laboratory to ensure the perfect fit and maximum protection. Dental injuries are common in contact sports and recreational activities, and a custom mouthguard can protect your teeth, mouth, and jaw, as well as orthodontic appliances. Research shows that custom mouthguards not only shield your teeth but may also help mitigate concussion effects during sports. Suitable for all ages, custom mouthguards are strongly recommended for anyone involved in sports or other physical activities with a higher risk of injury.

When is a Custom Mouthguard Used?

Sports guards and custom mouthguards in Collingwood play a vital role in protecting your teeth, jaw, and mouth during sports and other high-risk physical activities. Custom mouthguards offer a personalized fit that enhances comfort and protection compared to generic options. Wearing a mouthguard is highly recommended for activities including:

Lacrosse

Basketball

Rugby

Football

Hockey and Ice Skating

Soccer

Baseball

Gymnastics

Skateboarding and Rollerblading

Snowboarding, Skiing, and Biking

Boxing and Martial Arts (MMA)

If you or your child participates in any of these sports or physically intense activities, consult our Collingwood dentist about a custom mouthguard. This can help protect against dental injuries and lower the chances of needing costly and invasive dental procedures later on.

What are the Different Types of Mouthguards?

Sports guards and custom mouthguards in Collingwood are available in three main categories: custom- made, boil-and-bite, and stock. Each type offers varying levels of protection, comfort, and longevity. Understanding the differences can help athletes choose the best option for their needs.

Custom-Made Mouthguards

Custom-made mouthguards are created by a dental professional using an impression of your mouth. At Peaks Family Dentistry Collingwood, the process begins with capturing an accurate mould of your teeth and bite. This impression is then sent to a dental laboratory, where technicians construct a mouthguard that fits your individual mouth shape and jaw alignment. The biggest advantage of custom-made mouthguards is their unparalleled fit. Because they are tailored to your anatomy, they stay firmly in place during activity, providing more reliable protection. They do not shift, loosen, or fall out when breathing heavily, speaking, or absorbing impact. Custom guards also allow clearer communication and normal airflow compared to bulkier store-bought alternatives. Additionally, custom mouthguards are made from high-quality materials that effectively absorb and distribute impact. This can significantly reduce the severity of dental injuries and may help diminish the
force transferred to the jawbone and skull.

Boil-and-Bite Mouthguards

Boil-and-bite mouthguards offer an at-home option for athletes looking for something more customized than a stock guard. These products are softened in boiling water and then moulded by biting into the material. While they can provide a better fit than stock mouthguards, they still lack the precision and durability of professionally crafted options. One of the main drawbacks is that boil-and-bite guards lose their shape over time. Heat, pressure, and repetitive use can cause warping, which compromises fit and protection. As the guard becomes looser, it is more likely to move inside the mouth, reducing its ability to stay in place during sports.

Stock Mouthguards

Stock mouthguards are the most affordable option and are available pre-formed in sporting goods stores. While accessible and inexpensive, they offer the least desirable fit and protection. Because they come in generic sizes and cannot be adjusted, they rarely sit securely in the mouth and often require the athlete to clench their teeth just to keep them in place. This poor fit can obstruct breathing, limit speech, and drastically weaken protective performance. Stock mouthguards provide minimal cushioning, making them unsuitable for serious or competitive athletes. Dental professionals typically do not recommend them due to their low protective value.

Which Option Is Best?

While boil-and-bite and stock mouthguards are widely available, custom-made mouthguards offer superior comfort, stability, and protection. For athletes of any age or skill level, a professionally made custom guard provides the highest level of injury prevention and long-term reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Popular Questions about Peaks Family Dentistry

What are the Advantages of a Custom Mouthguard?

A night guard functions much like a protective mouthguard, creating a cushioned barrier between your upper and lower teeth while you sleep. This simple appliance helps absorb the forces generated by clenching and grinding—also known as bruxism—and prevents the damage that can occur when your teeth and jaw are under nightly stress.

– Helps Prevent Further Damage to Your Teeth
Because grinding happens unconsciously during sleep, most people are unaware of how often or how intensely they grind. Over time, this persistent pressure wears away the enamel, the outermost protective layer of your teeth. As enamel becomes thinner, teeth are more susceptible to sensitivity, decay, and structural breakdown. Grinding can also place significant strain on already weakened or previously treated teeth, including those with fillings, crowns, or other restorations. Without a night guard, compromised teeth are more likely to chip, crack, or fracture under pressure. When this happens, additional dental treatment may be required—sometimes as extensive as a root canal or even a dental extraction. A custom-fitted night guard acts as an effective line of defence, absorbing excess force and helping preserve your natural tooth structure for the long term.

– Helps Prevent TMJ Problems
The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) connect your lower jaw to your skull and play a crucial role in daily activities such as chewing, speaking, and yawning. Clenching and grinding place excessive strain on these joints, leading to discomfort and potential misalignment. Over time, this can contribute to TMJ disorder, which may present as jaw pain, headaches, difficulty chewing, facial tension, or clicking and popping sounds in the jaw. Wearing a night guard helps reduce pressure on the TMJ by relaxing the jaw muscles while you sleep. This relaxation minimizes strain, supports proper jaw alignment, and lowers the risk of developing long- term TMJ complications.

– Helps Save Money on Future Dental Care
A night guard is not only beneficial for your oral health—it can also help you avoid costly restorative treatments. Continuous grinding can damage enamel and weaken dental work, such as fillings, crowns, bridges, and implants. By adding a protective cushion between your teeth, a night guard helps extend the lifespan of both natural teeth and dental restorations. Preventing fractures, sensitivity, and wear today reduces the likelihood of needing extensive treatment later. The investment in a night guard can save you significant expenses by protecting your teeth, reducing discomfort, and helping preserve the results of previous dental treatments. Night guards are always available at Peaks Family Dentistry Collingwood. If you’ve been experiencing symptoms of bruxism or TMJ-related issues—such as headaches, jaw soreness, or difficulty chewing—be sure to mention it during your next visit. While our dental team is trained to recognize signs of clenching and grinding, sharing your symptoms helps us assess the situation more accurately and recommend the right treatment options for your needs.

Where Can I Buy a Mouthguard in Collingwood?

Sports guards and custom mouthguards in Collingwood are available directly from our dental clinic. We provide professionally made custom mouthguards for patients involved in high-risk physical activities, including hockey, soccer, football, lacrosse, rugby, basketball, baseball, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, gymnastics, boxing, martial arts, and more.

While boil-and-bite or stock mouthguards can be purchased online or from local sporting goods stores, our dental team strongly recommends custom-made mouthguards. It’s because they offer superior comfort, stability, and protection, significantly increasing their effectiveness in preventing injuries to the teeth, mouth, and jaw during impact.

How are Custom Mouthguards Created or Fitted?

Custom mouthguards in Collingwood are crafted through a straightforward, efficient process that ensures optimal protection, comfort, and durability. The entire procedure is typically completed over one initial visit and one brief follow-up appointment.
Here’s how it works:

1. Impressions
During this visit, a detailed mould of your upper teeth—and, if needed, your lower teeth—is taken using precise dental impression materials. This mould captures the shape of your bite, the position of each tooth, and the unique contours of your jaw. The accuracy of this impression is what allows the final mouthguard to fit securely and comfortably.

2. Lab Fabrication
Here, skilled technicians fabricate the custom mouthguard using high-quality, durable materials designed specifically for sports protection. Layers of protective material are vacuum-formed or pressure-laminated over the impression to create a guard with optimal thickness and shock absorption. You can also select your preferred colour, making the mouthguard both functional and personalized.

3. Delivery
Once it's ready, you’ll return to our clinic. During this visit, your dentist ensures that the mouthguard fits properly, feels comfortable, and stays firmly in place without shifting. Any minor adjustments needed for comfort or alignment are completed chairside. For team orders or multiple fittings, Peaks Family Dentistry Collingwood can arrange group appointments or deliver completed guards directly to your practice facility, arena, or playing field. The entire process is simple, efficient, and ensures you receive a high-quality, precisely tailored custom mouthguard.

What is the Cost of a Custom Mouthguard in Collingwood?

Custom mouthguards in Collingwood vary in cost depending on several factors, including the type of material used, whether both upper and lower guards are needed, and any specific customizations requested. On average, you can expect to pay between $100 and $600, with all fees based on the current Ontario Dental Fee Guide provided by the Ontario Dental Association.

While cheaper alternatives like boil-and-bite or stock mouthguards are available, they don’t offer the same level of fit, comfort, or protection. Custom-fitted mouthguards stay in place more effectively during impact, maintain their shape longer, and offer superior protection against dental injuries. Investing in a custom Mouthguard can help reduce the risk of serious dental emergencies, including lacerations, broken or cracked teeth, concussions, and damage to dental appliances.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Custom Mouthguards?

Custom Mouthguards in Collingwood may or may not be covered by your dental insurance plan, as most plans do not include them, but some do! It’s best to speak with our team at Peaks Family Dentistry Collingwood to find out whether your coverage includes custom mouthguards. We’re happy to review your benefits and explain your insurance plan in clear, thorough detail.

For added convenience, we offer direct insurance billing, which means we accept assignment of benefits. You’ll only need to pay any deductibles, co-payments, or required out-of-pocket fees upfront. We’ll handle the claim submission and coordinate payment directly with your insurance provider, so you don’t have to deal with the paperwork.

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You can call, email, walk in, or book online through our Contact Us page to book an appointment for a
sports guard at Peaks Family Dentistry Collingwood. We warmly welcome new patients and walk-ins and
look forward to meeting you at our clinic at 31 Huron St, Collingwood, with plenty of free parking
available.
At Peaks Family Dentistry in Collingwood, we offer comprehensive dental care for all ages, including
dental mouth guards and sleep guards for residents. We also provide emergency dentistry, accept all
major insurance plans, and offer direct insurance billing.