Dr. Petersen recommends using a mouthguard during any activity that could result in a blow to the face or mouth. The custom mouthguards that we fabricate here at our office fit more snug than your normal boil-&-bite mouthguards, making it easy to talk and breath while you are wearing it. A properly fitted mouthguard can help prevent broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw. Athletic mouthguards typically cover the upper teeth. If you wear braces or another fixed dental appliance on your lower jaw, your dentist may suggest a mouth protector for these teeth as well. A properly fitted mouthguard may be especially important for people who wear braces or have fixed bridge work. A blow to the face could damage the brackets or other fixed orthodontic appliances. They also provide a barrier between the braces and your cheek or lips, limiting the risk of soft tissue injuries.

Personalizing your athletic mouthguard is the funnest part about these! Pick out a logo, nickname, jersey number, or whatever you can think of to incorporate into your new mouthguard!

These appliances are used as aids in decreasing the prominence of sleep apnea and snoring. Depending on a patient’s past experience with CPAP machines, sleep apnea, and snoring treatments, we often notice big improvements with these devices. These appliances involve wearing customized guards on both the upper and lower arches which are then connected together. When connected, the lower jaw is positioned more forward than it’s natural position to allow the airway to open more, in turn decreasing the apnic episodes during sleep and also decreasing the amount of snoring.

These appliances can involve sleep studies and have the potential to be covered by your medical insurance. If you have questions please call the office and set up an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Petersen.