Custom Mouth Guards in Charlotte, NC
Playing sports in Charlotte comes with plenty of upsides, but it also puts your smile at risk every time you step onto the field, court, or rink. A single collision or fall can chip a tooth, loosen it, or knock it out entirely, turning a fun afternoon into an emergency dental visit. At Imagine Dentistry, we help athletes of all ages protect their smiles with custom-fit mouthguards designed specifically for their mouths and their sport.
We understand that off-the-shelf mouthguards can feel bulky, fall out during play, or make it hard to breathe and talk. That’s why we build every guard around a detailed model of your teeth, giving you a snug fit that stays put and lets you focus on the game instead of your gear. We’ll walk through why custom fit matters, which sports call for extra protection, and how we create your guard from start to finish.
Why Does Custom Fit Matter for a Mouthguard?
Not all mouthguards offer the same level of protection. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s policy on sports-related orofacial injuries notes that custom-fabricated mouthguards outperform store-bought options in retention, protection, and comfort, and recommends them as the preferred option whenever they’re available. That difference comes down to how the guard is made.
Store-bought guards fall into two categories: stock guards you bite down on to hold in place, and boil-and-bite guards you shape yourself at home. Both rely on guesswork, so the fit is rarely accurate. A loose guard can move around during impact, leaving teeth and gums exposed at the exact moment protection matters most. It can also interfere with breathing and speech, which is part of why so many athletes stop wearing them.
A custom guard solves these problems by starting with an exact model of your dental arch. We use this model to build a guard that follows the unique contours of your mouth, covers your teeth evenly, and stays secure through the toughest plays. The result is protection you barely notice while you’re wearing it.
What Does the Research Say About Mouthguards and Injury Prevention?
The numbers make a strong case for wearing one at all, regardless of type. That same AAPD policy points to national high school data showing dental injuries occurred at roughly three times the rate during competition compared to practice, and that most of these injuries happened when the athlete had no mouthguard in place at all. Basketball carried the highest injury rate among boys’ sports, while field hockey topped the list for girls, showing that risk extends well beyond the sports most people associate with mouth injuries.
Which Sports Call for a Custom Mouthguard?
Contact and collision sports carry the most obvious risk, but plenty of others put teeth in danger, too. We recommend a custom guard for:
- Contact sports: Football, hockey, lacrosse, wrestling, and rugby involve frequent player-to-player contact and have mouthguard requirements in many leagues.
- Ball and equipment sports: Baseball, softball, and basketball involve fast-moving balls, elbows, and hard surfaces that can catch you off guard.
- Individual and recreational activities: Skateboarding, biking, and gymnastics all carry fall risk a guard can help cushion.
Even sports without a mouthguard requirement can benefit from one. A single hard fall or stray elbow is often all it takes to chip a front tooth, and a properly fitted guard absorbs that impact before it reaches your teeth.
We often talk with parents whose kids play multiple sports throughout the year, and a well-made custom guard can move between seasons with proper care. It also holds up better over time than a boil-and-bite version, which tends to lose its shape and protective value after repeated use.
How Are Custom Mouthguards Made at Imagine Dentistry?
Getting fitted for a custom mouthguard at our South Charlotte office is an easy, comfortable process. We start by taking a detailed scan of your teeth using our state-of-the-art iTero Lumina scanner, which lets us capture your bite without the messy trays of the past. From there, we design a guard that follows your exact dental anatomy, giving you a fit that feels secure without restricting your breathing or speech.
Once your guard is ready, we make sure it fits comfortably before you take it home. We also walk you through proper care, including cleaning and storage, so it stays in good shape between games and practices. If your bite changes over time, whether due to growth, Invisalign treatment, or general wear, we can adjust or remake your guard to match.
We also see plenty of patients dealing with teeth grinding alongside sports demands, and a custom night guard can address that separately if needed. Athletes with braces or other orthodontic appliances need special consideration, too, since standard guards often don’t accommodate brackets and wires well. If sports contact ever results in a chipped or fractured tooth, we can also restore it so your smile looks and feels like new.
Protect Your Smile This Season With Imagine Dentistry
Dr. Ann Blaine Coambs and our team at Imagine Dentistry want every athlete in South Charlotte to feel confident stepping onto the field (or court) knowing their smile is protected. With 20+ years of experience and an FAGD designation held by fewer than 6% of general dentists in the U.S., Dr. Coambs brings a careful, detail-oriented approach to every custom mouthguard we create, using our iTero Lumina scanner to build a guard that fits your mouth perfectly.
If you or your young athlete needs a custom-fit mouthguard before the next season starts, we’d love to help. Contact us today to schedule a fitting, and ask about our flexible payment options, including CareCredit, Cherry, and our “Love.Your.Smile.” Membership Plan, to make protecting your smile easy.
Using Innovation and Education to Make Your Smile Amazing, we’re here to help you play with confidence!
Dr. Coambs is welcoming new patients to their boutique practice in the Arboretum area of South Charlotte. Book a Meet & Greet to get started.
Dental Insurance
We accept most dental insurances, and we will always work to get the most out of your benefits. If it would help to break up the cost of your care into smaller monthly payments, we are prepared to discuss payment plan options with you. We offer an excellent Membership Plan with our office, as well as financing with Care Credit. If you are looking for a dentist in Charlotte, NC, our team will be delighted to assist you in scheduling an appointment today.
Dental Membership Plan
We offer an excellent Membership Plan designed specifically for patients without traditional insurance coverage. Our “Love.Your.Smile.” plans provide access to preventive care, including regular checkups, cleanings, and x-rays, along with valuable discounts on additional treatments. If you’re looking for transparent pricing and quality dental care without the hassle of insurance claims, our membership plan may be the perfect solution for you and your family. Our team will be happy to discuss which plan best fits your needs during your visit!
