Your teen’s smile is priceless, but one split-second collision on the court or field could change everything. Sports-related dental injuries happen more often than you might think, and the costs go far beyond just replacing a tooth.
At Sunrise Dental Cary, award-winning Dr. Jordan Tucker and his team understand how important it is to protect your teen athlete’s oral health. With their expertise as one of the top three most technologically advanced dental practices in the United States, they can help ensure your child stays safe while pursuing their passion for sports.
Understanding the Real Risk of Sports Injuries
The numbers tell a powerful story about dental trauma in youth athletics. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children aged 17 years and younger represent roughly 80 percent of all dental injuries that present to emergency rooms. Basketball leads the pack with the highest rate of sports-related dental injuries for high school boys, while field hockey presents the greatest risk for girls. Perhaps most concerning is that in the majority of dental injuries, the athlete was not wearing a mouthguard when the trauma occurred.
The consequences of these injuries extend far beyond the immediate pain. A single avulsed tooth in a teenage athlete can cost up to $20,000 over a lifetime when you factor in restorative, endodontic, and prosthodontic treatments. Beyond the financial burden, children with untreated trauma to permanent teeth experience greater impacts on their daily living, affecting their confidence, school performance, and social interactions.
When Your Teen Needs a Sports Guard
The simple answer is that any teen participating in contact sports or activities with potential for facial impact should wear a sports guard. While some sports mandate protective equipment, many popular activities remain unprotected. Football, ice hockey, lacrosse, and field hockey require mouthguards at the high school level, but sports like basketball, baseball, soccer, softball, volleyball, and gymnastics do not have the same requirements.
Beyond organized team sports, consider protection for your teen if they participate in skateboarding, inline skating, or bicycling. These recreational activities account for nearly 20 percent of all traumatic dental events among adolescents. Even trampoline use carries significant risk for head and neck injuries. The key is to evaluate any activity where your child’s face could come into contact with another player, equipment, or hard surfaces.
Different Types of Sports Guards
When it comes to protecting your teen’s teeth, understanding the three main types of sports guards helps you make an informed decision:
- Custom-fabricated mouthguards: created by your dentist over a dental model of your teen’s mouth, these offer superior protection, comfort, and retention. The custom fit ensures proper coverage of all teeth while allowing for normal breathing and speaking. Dr. Tucker can design these guards to accommodate orthodontic appliances or shifting teeth, making them ideal for growing teens.
- Mouth-formed guards: commonly called boil-and-bite guards, these thermoplastic options are molded at home after heating in hot water. Available at sporting goods stores, they provide moderate protection at a lower cost than custom options but vary significantly in quality and fit.
- Stock mouthguards: these pre-formed guards require no customization but must be held in place by clenching. They often interfere with breathing and speaking, making them the least protective and least comfortable option despite being the most affordable.
For maximum protection of your teen’s smile, custom-fabricated guards remain the gold standard. They position the jaw to absorb impact forces, cushion the teeth from direct blows, and create a barrier between soft tissues and hard dental structures. This comprehensive protection can significantly reduce the risk of tooth fractures, luxations, avulsions, and even jaw fractures.
Making the Right Choice for Your Family
Choosing appropriate protection for your teen involves balancing several factors. Consider the specific sport and its injury risk, your teen’s dental development, including any orthodontic treatment, and their comfort level with different guard types. The best mouthguard is the one your teen will actually wear consistently.
Cost considerations matter too, but perspective helps. While custom guards typically range higher in price than store-bought options, they represent a fraction of the potential cost of treating a serious dental injury. Many parents find that investing in proper protection saves significantly more in the long run. Additionally, some insurance plans now recognize the preventive value of custom sports guards and may offer coverage.
Your teen’s willingness to wear the guard consistently plays a crucial role in its effectiveness. Custom-fitted guards typically receive better compliance because they fit comfortably, allow for natural breathing and speaking, and do not interfere with athletic performance. When teens find their guard comfortable, they are more likely to keep it in place throughout practice and games.
Schedule Your Sports Guard Consultation at Sunrise Dental Cary
Protecting your teen athlete’s smile starts with the right preventive care. Dr. Jordan Tucker brings extensive experience as a private practice owner and clinical faculty member to every patient interaction. Together with Dr. McKenzie Tucker, MD, they have expanded their practice to include both dental and medical aesthetic procedures, ensuring comprehensive care for your family.At Sunrise Dental Cary, the team takes time to understand your teen’s specific athletic activities and create a custom protection plan that works for your family. Whether your child plays multiple sports or focuses on one activity, they can design a comfortable, effective mouthguard that provides maximum protection. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation and learn more about keeping your teen’s smile safe on and off the field.