Stock
PRO
- Can be conveniently purchased from sporting goods store or pharmacy
- Inexpensive ($5-10)
- Easy to fit
CON
- Deemed as "Unacceptable as orofacial protective device" by the Academy for Sports Dentistry (ASD)
- Only available in limited sizes
- Inhibits speech and breathing
- Requires jaw to be closed to hold it in place
- Lack of athlete compliance (due to discomfort)
- Prone to being chewed on
Boil And Bite
PRO
- Can be conveniently purchased from sporting goods store
- Easy to fit
- Relatively inexpensive ($15-40)
CON
- Bulky and uncomfortable design inhibits speech and breathing
- Prone to being chewed on (rendering it completely useless)
- Lack of athlete compliance (due to discomfort)
Dental Custom Fit
PRO
- Individualized fit provides better protection
- Ability to talk and breathe
- Thin and comfortable - players are more likely to wear it
- Custom color options
CON
- Expensive ($100-300)
- Requires impressions from the dentist (some models allow you to do impressions yourself)
- Takes time to manufacture in a lab
Custom Fit, Impressionless - SISU Mouthguards
PRO
- Inexpensive ($16-35)
Instant custom fit - no impressions needed - Perforated design provide better protection than boil and bite
- Perforations allow for natural flow of air and saliva (talk, breathe, drink)
- Thin and comfortable design (1.6mm)
- Can bet fit with braces
- Remold back to flat by placing it in hot water
CON
- Non-conventional design may be difficult to fit for first time users
- No multi-color options
Despite costs, a custom fit mouthguard will provide the best protection to your teeth. In 2001, a study of 301 Australian football players proved that wearing a custom fit athletic mouthguard had a significantly lower rate of injury than those wearing an over-the-counter teeth protector. A design that is custom fitted to your mouth will remain secure and provide protection to every corner of your teeth that a boil-n-bite can't get to.
While it may seem like a small piece of gear may not have an effect on your game, having a properly fitted mouthguard can make all the difference your performance, oxygen intake and communication on the field. When the big game is ahead of you, the last thing you want to worry about is your uncomfortable athletic mouthguard.