Custom Sports Mouthguards

I play ice hockey. I play mostly for fun and the exercise and only partly for the cool factor. I used to play many years ago in college and this last summer got back into it locally. I'm a goalie on the White Lightning, a Division 8 team in the Greater Seattle Hockey League (GSHL.) Div 8 is the lowest division in the league, by the way, so don't assume that I'm actually very good. I just have fun and try to get in the way.



Since I got my braces off a couple months ago, my old mouthguard didn't fit anymore so I took the opportunity to do a little research on the topic. There are a number of "boil-and-bite" mouthguards on the market and I wanted to know if the extra time and expense for a custom one was worth it. So I bought three different Shock Doctor mouthguards: the cheapest, the mid-level, and the most expensive. I followed the directions (which are all slightly different, by the way, so read them closely) and made myself the guards. I then used models of my teeth and made a custom guard with my team name and colors and my name and number embedded in it. What a huge difference!



While I feel the one-size-kinda-fits-most guard is better than nothing, it does not fit or feel like a custom one. I can breathe better and talk--and I certainly like to talk! On the ice, I'm always shouting to my defensemen where the puck and shooters are, pointing out passing opportunities and encouraging my teammates. Not only is the custom mouthguard more comfortable and functional, it also looks way cooler--and isn't that part of hockey?



To make a custom mouthguard, we use the best material on the market--ProForm Dual-Laminate--and add an extra layer of thin material to enhance customization and integrate the bite of your lower teeth. All it takes is one quick appointment for an impression of your teeth and you can pick up your new guard in two business days. For members of GSHL or Sno-King Amateur Hockey Association, we'll make your mouthguard for FREE if you complete a New Patient Exam, cleaning and any needed x-rays. For all others, we'll make one for the low price of only $40. (Trust me, this is a bargain--my lab charges $75 just to make the guards if I send them in. By making them in our office, we can keep our costs low and pass the savings on to you.)



Mouthguards aren't just for hockey players. Anyone participating in sports should wear one--football, baseball, martial arts, etc... All it takes is one quick accident to make you wish you'd always worn one.