Custom Sports Mouthguards in Toronto
Nothing matches the excitement of watching your child score a goal or make a game-saving block. Yet every practice and match carries an unseen risk: oral injuries. According to the Canadian Dental Association, athletes who play contact or fast-moving sports are 60 times more likely to experience dental trauma if they aren’t wearing a mouthguard. Chipped incisors, fractured roots, and even tooth loss can happen in a split second—and the costs and discomfort often last far longer than a season.
At Lee Dental Associates, located at Yonge and Lawrence in Midtown Toronto, we’re passionate about safeguarding young athletes’ smiles with custom sports mouthguards. In this 900-word guide, you’ll discover why mouthguards are essential for hockey, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and more—plus how to choose, care for, and benefit from a professionally made appliance.
1. Understanding the Real Risks on the Field and Rink
- Contact sports like hockey and lacrosse involve sticks, pucks, elbows, and unpredictable collisions.
- Fast-moving ball sports such as soccer, basketball, and baseball create impact forces that can crack or dislodge teeth.
- Even non-contact activities—think skateboarding, mountain biking, or gymnastics—carry a risk of falls and face plants.
Dental injuries can range from minor lip lacerations to complex root fractures that require root canals or extractions. Treatment costs escalate quickly: a single knocked-out tooth can total $4,000–$20,000 over a lifetime when factoring in implants or bridgework.² A mouthguard is a small investment that prevents a big financial and emotional toll.
2. Boil-and-Bite vs. Custom Mouthguards: What’s the Difference?
| Feature | Store-Bought “Boil-and-Bite” | Custom Mouthguard (Lee Dental Associates) |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Self-molded, often bulky or loose | Precisely adapted to child’s teeth and bite |
| Comfort & Speech | Can impede breathing, talking | Slim profile for natural speech & easy breathing |
| Protection | Basic shock absorption | Optimized thickness where impacts occur |
| Durability | 6 months or less | 1–2 years (or until significant growth changes) |
| Cost | $20–$40 | $150–$300 |
Boil-and-bite guards may seem convenient, but studies show they provide less impact dispersion and can pop out on contact.³ A custom mouthguard, fabricated from a dental impression or digital scan, surrounds each tooth snugly, stays in place, and distributes force across the entire arch—greatly reducing the chance of fractures, TMJ injuries, and soft-tissue cuts.
3. The Custom Mouthguard Process at Lee Dental Associates
- Consultation & Impression – We evaluate your child’s bite, discuss sport-specific needs, and take a quick impression or intraoral scan.
- Laboratory Fabrication – Using high-grade EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) material, our lab designs a multi-layer guard, fine-tuning thickness over the front teeth and molars—common impact zones.
- Fitting & Adjustments – At the follow-up visit, we test retention, confirm breathing comfort, and make any tiny tweaks for a perfect feel.
- Personalization – Choose team colours, name/number engraving, or add a strap for attaching to a hockey cage.
Turnaround is typically one week, so your athlete won’t miss practice.
4. Added Benefits You Might Not Expect
- Concussion Reduction: Emerging research suggests properly fitted mouthguards may lower the severity of concussions by absorbing jaw impact forces that transmit to the skull.⁴
- Improved Performance: Because custom guards don’t impede breathing, athletes maintain oxygen flow and endurance better than with bulky store guards.
- Orthodontic Compatibility: Kids in braces still need protection. We design guards that fit over brackets without risk of dislodging them or trapping wires.
- Confidence Boost: When young players know their teeth are safe, they play more aggressively and enjoy the game.
5. Caring for a Custom Mouthguard
- Rinse and Brush the guard after every use with cool water and a soft toothbrush—avoid hot water that can warp the material.
- Air-Dry Thoroughly before storing to prevent bacterial growth.
- Store in a Vented Case away from direct sunlight or pets (dogs love to chew EVA!).
- Inspect Each Season for wear, tears, or tightness; schedule a new guard after major dental work or if fit changes due to growth spurts.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: At what age should my child start wearing a mouthguard?
A: As soon as they have a mix of primary and permanent teeth (around age 6–7) and begin organized sports.
Q: My child just lost a baby tooth—will the guard still fit?
A: Minor changes usually don’t affect protection. Bring the guard to your next cleaning; we can evaluate fit and adjust if needed.
Q: Do mouthguards work with retainers?
A: Removable retainers should be taken out during play. We’ll fabricate the guard to stabilize teeth while protecting them.
7. Make Protection a Team Priority
Coaches and parents can help normalize mouthguard use by:
- Adding “mouthguard check” to equipment lists alongside helmets and shin pads.
- Demonstrating wear during scrimmages, not just games.
- Replacing chew-damaged or ill-fitting guards immediately.
A culture of safety keeps the whole roster smiling.
Ready to Guard Your Young Athlete’s Smile?
A split second on the ice or turf can change a smile forever—but it doesn’t have to. Custom sports mouthguards from Lee Dental Associates provide the best line of defense against chips, fractures, and costly extractions.
Book a Mouthguard Appointment Today
Visit us at 3335 Yonge Street, Suite 302, Toronto, or schedule an appointment online. Our friendly Midtown Toronto team will ensure your child’s mouthguard fits perfectly and keeps them safe throughout every period, quarter, and inning.
Protect their game-day grin—because every champion deserves a winning smile!
