Every year, thousands of dental injuries occur during sports — many of which could have been prevented with a properly fitting mouthguard. The American Dental Association recommends mouthguards for over 30 sports, from obvious contact activities like football and hockey to basketball, soccer, martial arts, and even skateboarding.
At Newpoint Family Dental in Unionville, CT, we fabricate custom-fitted sports mouthguards from impressions of your teeth. The result is a guard that fits precisely, stays in place during play, allows normal breathing and speaking, and provides significantly more protection than store-bought alternatives.
Custom vs. Store-Bought: Why the Difference Matters
Boil-and-bite mouthguards from the drugstore are one-size-fits-most — which means they fit poorly, feel bulky, and often end up tucked in a gym bag instead of in the athlete's mouth. Custom mouthguards are:
- Precisely fitted to your teeth and bite for maximum comfort and protection
- Even thickness for consistent shock absorption across all tooth surfaces
- Better retention — they stay put without clenching or biting down
- Breathe and speak naturally without gagging or mouth breathing
- Durable — professional materials last longer than generic options
Who Should Wear a Sports Mouthguard?
Any athlete — child or adult — who participates in contact or collision sports, or activities with fall risk. This includes football, basketball, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, wrestling, martial arts, boxing, skateboarding, mountain biking, and gymnastics. Many Farmington Valley families bring their kids in before sports season starts to get fitted for guards that will last the year.
The Process
We take a quick impression of your teeth (or a digital scan), select the appropriate thickness and material based on your sport, and have your custom guard ready within about a week. The fitting appointment takes just a few minutes, and we make any minor adjustments on the spot for a perfect fit.