Guards Built for Your Teeth

Mouthguards serve two primary purposes for Forestville residents: protecting teeth during sports and activities (sports guards) and protecting teeth from damage due to grinding and clenching (night guards). Many Forestville families have children and teens who participate in outdoor sports like hiking, kayaking, and skateboarding; custom sports guards protect their developing teeth during these activities. Adults who grind or clench their teeth at night need night guards to prevent wear, fracture, and damage to enamel. Unlike boil-and-bite mouthguards from sporting goods stores, custom-fabricated guards from our office provide superior protection and comfort because they're molded precisely to your teeth and mouth anatomy.

The drive from Forestville to our Windsor location is approximately 18 minutes via Highway 116 heading east. Mouthguard fabrication is straightforward: we take an impression of your teeth, send it to our lab, and receive a custom-molded guard that fits snugly without excess bulk. We discuss wear-and-care instructions and ensure the guard is comfortable and retentive. Most patients prefer custom guards once they experience the difference in comfort and protection compared to over-the-counter options.

Custom sports mouthguards are fabricated from high-impact acrylic or rubber compounds that absorb and distribute impact force, reducing the risk of tooth fracture, jaw fracture, and soft-tissue laceration. Dr. Bonin takes a precise impression and may create a multi-layered guard with softer inner material for comfort and harder outer material for protection. Sports guards are form-fitting and retain comfortably during activity, unlike loose boil-and-bite guards that athletes often spit out. Night guards for bruxism are typically made from hard acrylic on one side and softer material on the tooth-facing side, balancing durability with comfort.

The guard's thickness, material, and fit significantly impact its effectiveness and comfort. For contact-sport athletes, thicker guards offer better protection; for non-contact sports, thinner guards improve fit and compliance. Night guards are worn during sleep and may take a few nights of adjustment before they feel natural. We review care instructions, emphasizing rinsing after sports and soaking night guards periodically to prevent bacterial growth. Replacement every one to three years is typical, depending on wear patterns and material degradation.

Forestville's outdoor lifestyle culture means many residents engage in activities where dental injury is possible. Kids skateboarding, adults kayaking, hikers taking falls on mountain trails, all benefit from the protection that a quality mouthguard provides. For those grinding and clenching at night, custom night guards prevent the slow erosion of enamel that boil-and-bite options can't address. Forestville parents appreciate that custom guards are an investment in their children's dental future, protecting developing teeth during peak activity years.