The Right Guard for Your Teeth

Custom-fit mouthguards protect teeth during sports and bruxism (grinding) at night. Burnside Road and Downtown Sebastopol have active families with school-age children participating in soccer, baseball, skateboarding, and contact sports. South Sebastopol's rural residents and Ragle Ranch families include equestrian enthusiasts and cyclists at risk for impact injury. The Barlow's younger cohort may participate in fitness activities (boxing, CrossFit) requiring mouth protection. Custom guards outperform boil-and-bite variants: they fit precisely, stay in during play, and provide superior padding. Many Sebastopol parents recognize that a high-quality guard is cheaper than replanting a fractured tooth and seek Dr. Bonin's recommendations. Older residents, particularly those with bruxism history, also wear night guards to slow wear on existing restorations.

Sports guard fitting is a single appointment (30 min). Impressions are taken, and lab fabrication requires 1-2 weeks. Night guard follow-up is routine. Patients appreciate that guards are durable (1-2 years typical with care) and repairable if damaged.

Sport mouthguard fabrication starts with impression of upper or lower arch (typically upper for maximum protection). Lab creates a custom guard using either laminated or vacuum-formed thermoplastic material layered over a plaster model. Guard thickness (2-4 mm) is customized to sport (higher impact sports get thicker padding). Fit is secure but removable without retention difficulty. Player can speak and breathe naturally. Color and team logo customization is available.

Night guards for bruxism follow similar fabrication but are often firmer acrylic with minimal padding, allowing controlled contact and bite repositioning if needed. Dr. Bonin selects material based on grinding severity: soft guards for mild grinding (comfort), hard guards for heavy grinding (durability and sensory feedback). Custom fit ensures retention all night without jaw discomfort.

Sebastopol's outdoor-active families value protection of permanent teeth; custom guards are seen as smart investment in kids' long-term health. Parents and young athletes appreciate that professional guards outperform drugstore options and feel confident during competition. Older residents grinding their teeth often recognize the problem after years of wear and choose guards to protect expensive existing restorations. The community's health-conscious values support preventive sports medicine mindset.