Mouth Guards

Anyone who participates in a sport that carries a significant risk of injury should wear a mouth protector. Sports like basketball, baseball, gymnastics, and volleyball all pose risks to your gum tissues, as well as your teeth. We usually think of football and hockey as the most dangerous to the teeth, but nearly half of sports-related mouth injuries occur in basketball and baseball.

A helmet can prevent serious injuries such as concussions, cerebral hemorrhages, incidents of unconsciousness, jaw fractures and neck injuries by helping to avoid situations where the lower jaw gets jammed into the upper jaw.   Mouth guards are effective in moving soft tissue in the oral cavity away from the teeth, preventing laceration and bruising of the lips and cheeks, especially for those who wear orthodontic appliances.

Mouth protectors, which typically cover the upper teeth, can cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth. If you wear braces or another fixed dental appliance on your lower jaw, a mouth protector is available for these teeth as well.

A properly fitted mouth protector may be especially important for people who wear braces or have fixed bridge work. A blow to the face could damage the brackets or other fixed orthodontic appliances. A mouth protector also provides a barrier between the braces and your cheek or lips, limiting the risk of soft tissue injuries. Although mouth protectors typically only cover the upper teeth, your dentist or orthodontist may suggest that you use a mouth protector on the lower teeth if you have braces on these teeth too. If you have a retainer or other removable appliance, do not wear it during any contact sports.

Types of mouth guards

There are three types of mouth protectors:

  • Stock - Inexpensive and come pre-formed, ready to wear. Unfortunately, they often don't fit very well. They can be bulky and can make breathing and talking difficult.
  • Boil and bite - Can be bought at many sporting goods stores and may offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. They should be softened in water, then inserted and allowed to adapt to the shape of your mouth. If you don't follow the directions carefully you can wind up with a poor-fitting mouth protector.
  • Custom-fitted - Made by your dentist for you personally. They are more expensive than the other versions, but because they are customized, they can offer a better fit than anything you can buy off the shelf.

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Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Two Front Teeth Family Dentistry

Monday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

7:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

Hours Vary by Appointment Only

Friday:

Hours Vary by Appointment Only

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Patient Testimonials

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    Excellent!! Always enjoy my time here in this office. Thanks for the time that you spend with each of us. Gary

    Gary K

    Thank you so much Two Front Teeth- Family Dentistry for taking such great care of my family’s teeth. Always prompt and efficient. The staff is amazing, so friendly.

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    Great experience! Much more straightforward experience than I thought. Painfree.

    Alison P

    I’ve been a patient of Dr, Chow’s for 15 years. 11 years ago I moved over an hour away but I still make the 3 hour round trip to the office because it is worth it! The staff is simply the best and the dental care is perfection. In an area that prides itself as being upscale and snooty, this office goes against that grain and consistently provides excellent dental care using state of the art equipment and procedures while being down to earth and genuinely thoughtful and kind. 

    Sherri M

    Awesome! Great staff. Always attentive and professional. Walking into Dr. Chow’s office always feels like home...welcoming! 

    Angelica R

    I’ve been going to dr. Chow for years now and have always been very pleased with the efficiency and professionalism of his office staff. He is a great dentist and very knowledgeble about craft. 

    Nancy H

    Great office! My husband and his family have been going here for over 25 years. And I have been going to Dr Chow for about 10 years. Andrea is very knowledgeable about all insurance coverages. Very personable staff!  

    Ashley S