Mouth Guards in Greenville
Your child made the team, and the equipment list includes a mouth guard. Maybe the coach mentioned it at the first practice, or maybe you watched a game and realized how much contact is involved. Either way, you want protection that actually fits and that your child will keep in their mouth for a full game. We fit sports mouth guards for kids, adolescents, and teens throughout Greenville, SC, and we do it as part of the same preventive care we provide at every visit.
A sports mouth guard is a custom-made appliance that covers the upper teeth and absorbs the force of a blow to the face. Instead of that force traveling straight into a front tooth, the guard spreads it out. Because we work exclusively with children, adolescents, and teens, we make guards for mouths that are still changing — baby teeth giving way to permanent ones, new molars coming in, and jaws that grow noticeably from one season to the next.
The alternative most Greenville families reach for is a boil-and-bite guard from a sporting goods aisle. Those are better than nothing, but they tend to be bulky, they loosen as kids talk and breathe, and a guard that gets pushed out or chewed apart isn't protecting anything. A custom guard is built from an impression or scan of your child's own teeth, so it stays put without constant adjusting. That matters most for the athletes who need it every single practice, not just on game day.
We recommend a sports mouth guard for any child in an activity where contact or a fall is possible — football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, wrestling, baseball, skateboarding, and more. Kids who have had a tooth chipped or knocked loose before are especially good candidates, and so are children with front teeth that stick out slightly, since those teeth take the first hit.
Age isn't a barrier. We see patients from the first tooth or around age one through young adulthood, so a mouth guard can be part of care for a six-year-old in a rec league or a high school junior playing varsity. We also treat children with special healthcare needs, and we take the time to make the fitting process manageable. Parents are welcome in the treatment room, which helps with younger or more hesitant kids. If your child wears braces, we coordinate with Ashby Park Family Orthodontics, one of our specialty partners, so protection and orthodontic treatment work together rather than against each other.
What Getting Fitted Involves
The process starts with a look at your child's teeth and bite. We check for loose teeth, erupting teeth, cavities, or anything that should be addressed before a guard is made. If we find a cavity, we handle it first — restorative work under a new guard would change the fit. Many families combine the fitting with a routine dental exam and cleaning so it's one trip instead of two.
- An impression or scan of your child's teeth so the guard matches their actual bite
- A custom guard built to cover the teeth most at risk of injury
- A fitting appointment where we check comfort, coverage, and how easily your child can talk and breathe
- Coaching for your child on inserting, removing, and wearing the guard consistently
- Guidance for parents on when growth means it's time for a new one
That last point is the one families forget. Children's mouths change fast, and a guard that fit perfectly in the fall may be snug or loose by spring. We reassess fit at regular checkups and let you know when a replacement makes sense.
Caring for the Guard Between Games
Rinse the guard with cool water before and after every use, then brush it gently with a toothbrush. Let it air dry completely before storing it in a vented case — a damp guard sealed in a gym bag grows bacteria and picks up odor. Keep it out of hot cars and away from dishwashers, since heat warps the material and ruins the fit.
Chewing on a guard is the fastest way to destroy it, so we talk with kids directly about leaving it alone on the bench. Bring the guard to checkups and we'll inspect it for thinning, tears, or bite marks. If a tooth does get injured during play, we offer emergency dental appointments and can bring in our board-certified oral surgeon or our specialty partner, Coastal Family Oral Surgery & Sedation, when a situation calls for it.
Insurance, Payment, and Scheduling in Greenville
We accept all major PPO insurance plans, Medicaid, and self-pay patients, and we file pediatric claims as a specialist. Coverage for sports guards varies by plan, so we review your benefits with you before treatment and give you clear numbers.
If cost is a concern, we offer flexible financing plans and accept HSA and FSA funds. New patients can start with our $99 New Patient Special. With offices serving Greenville, Easley, and Anderson, scheduling around school and practice times is usually straightforward — call us before the season starts, and we'll get your athlete protected.