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| Hinesly Orthodontics |
The team at Hinesly Orthodontics wants to remind our
athletes to play it safe by wearing a mouth guard during recreational and
organized sports.
A mouth guard is an essential piece of athletic gear that
should be part of your standard sporting equipment. A properly fitted mouth
guard may be especially important for people who wear braces. A blow to the
face could damage the brackets or other fixed orthodontic appliances. A mouth
guard also provides a barrier between the braces and your cheek or lips, which
will help you avoid injuries to your gums and cheeks.
There are three types of mouth guards:
1. Stock mouth guards come ready to wear. They are
inexpensive and can be bought at most sporting good stores and drug stores.
However, little can be done to adjust their fit.
2. Boil and bite mouth guards can also be bought at many
sporting goods stores and may offer a better fit than stock mouth guards. The
"boil and bite" mouth guard is made from thermoplastic material. It
is placed in hot water to soften, then placed in the mouth and shaped around
the teeth using finger and tongue pressure.
3. Custom-fitted mouth guards are individually designed and
made in our orthodontic office. Due to the use of the special material and
because of the extra time and work involved, a custom-made mouth guard may be
more expensive than the other types of mouth guards, but a custom-made mouth
guard provides the most comfort and protection.
If you are an athlete and a patient at Hinesly Orthodontics
talk to Dr. Hinesly about selecting a mouth guard that will provide the right
protection for you.
For more information give us a call our Ann Arbor Office at (734)
769-7600 or our Tecumseh Office at (517) 423-6300. Our friendly and knowledgeable team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
