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Sports Guards Portland, OR Athletes take plenty of hits over the course of a season, and teeth are rarely built to absorb them. Whether your child plays club soccer, competes on a wrestling mat, or spends weekends at the skatepark, a well-fitted mouthguard is one of the simplest ways to prevent a trip to the emergency room. At Hunter Dental Care, we fit athletes of every age with sports mouth guards in Portland, OR, built to match the exact shape of their teeth and bite.What Is a Custom Sports Guard?A custom sports guard is a protective appliance worn over the upper teeth during athletic activity. Unlike the guards sold at sporting goods stores, ours are fabricated from an actual impression of your mouth, so the fit follows the contours of your teeth and gums precisely. That precision matters during play, when a guard needs to stay in place through sprinting, contact, and sudden stops without shifting or falling out. Custom guards also allow for adjustments in thickness depending on the sport. A guard built for football or hockey can be reinforced in high-impact zones, while a guard for a lower-contact sport like basketball can be made thinner for easier breathing and speech. Why Custom Sports Guards Are Worth It Over Store-Bought OptionsBoil-and-bite and stock guards are better than nothing, but both come with real limitations. Stock guards are one-size-fits-all and tend to feel bulky, which makes many athletes take them out mid-game. Boil-and-bite versions require you to bite down into softened material, and getting an even fit is difficult to do at home. Bite down too hard and the guard thins out in exactly the spots that need the most protection. Custom sports guards in Portland avoid these problems entirely. Because the guard is molded from your own teeth, there is no guesswork involved in the fit. The material sits evenly across the arch, stays securely in place during movement, and does not interfere with normal breathing or speech the way many drugstore versions do. Which Sports Require a Mouth Guard?Full-contact sports are the obvious candidates, but plenty of oral injuries happen in sports many parents consider low-risk. Baseball and basketball account for a surprising share of dental trauma cases, largely because guards are worn less consistently than they are in football or hockey. Any activity involving contact, a fast-moving ball, or a real risk of falling is a good candidate for a mouthguard, regardless of whether it is an organized league sport or a weekend activity:
How Custom Sports Guards Are MadeThe process starts with an appointment where Dr. Hunter examines your teeth and takes a detailed impression of your upper arch. That impression is sent to a dental lab, where technicians build the guard to match your exact bite, adjusting thickness and coverage based on the sport you play. Once the guard is ready, you will return for a fitting to confirm it sits comfortably and does not need further adjustment. Because the process involves an in-person evaluation, your mouthguard dentist can also check for any dental issues, such as decay or bite misalignment, that might affect how the guard fits or performs. Sports Guards for Kids and Teen AthletesGrowing athletes have a unique set of needs. As permanent teeth come in and the jaw continues to develop, a guard that fit well last season may no longer offer adequate protection. We recommend re-evaluating fit at the start of each new season, especially for young athletes still losing baby teeth or wearing orthodontic appliances. Guards can also be adjusted for athletes in braces, which require a different design than a standard custom guard. Protect Your Smile With a Custom Sports Guard in Portland, ORA cracked or knocked-out tooth can sideline an athlete for the rest of a season, but a properly fitted mouthguard prevents most of these injuries before they happen. Call Hunter Dental Care at (503) 256-3737 to schedule a fitting and protect your smile before the next practice or game. |
 Location1739 NE 122nd Ave Portland, OR 97230-1914 HoursMondays & Tuesdays: 7 AM - 3 PM Wednesdays & Thursdays: 8 AM - 5 PM Fridays: Closed |
