Protect Your Teeth With Athletic Mouthguards From OIRD

One stray elbow or hard fall can chip, crack, or knock out a tooth in a single second, and fixing that takes a lot longer than the moment it took to happen. A custom athletic mouthguard is one of the simplest ways to keep yours or your athlete's smile safe. Because it's molded to fit their own teeth, it cushions a hit, stays put while they move, and is comfortable enough that they'll actually keep it in. Dr. Heller, Dr. Shin, and the team at Oral Implants and Reconstructive Dentistry (OIRD) in Lewis Center, OH make guards that protect your family's smiles, and if an injury ever does happen, we're here to help.

To get yourself or your child fitted, call us at (614) 885-1215.

How a Custom Mouthguard Is Made

Getting fitted with us is quick and straightforward — for adults and kids alike. Here's how it goes:

• We take impressions. We make a detailed mold of your upper teeth, either with a quick putty tray or a digital scan. It only takes a few minutes.
• We shape the guard to that mold. The impression guides a guard made for your exact bite, so it hugs the teeth instead of floating loosely around them.
• We check the fit. Once the guard is ready, you or your child tries it on. We make sure it sits securely, doesn't pinch the gums, and allows comfortable breathing and talking.
• You pick how it looks. In most cases you can choose a style and color. It's a small thing, but an athlete who likes how their guard looks is far more likely to wear it every time.

Curious who you'll be working with? Meet Dr. Heller and Dr. Shin to learn more about the care we provide.

How a Custom Mouthguard Is Made

Getting fitted with us is quick and straightforward — for adults and kids alike. Here's how it goes:

• We take impressions. We make a detailed mold of the upper teeth, either with a quick putty tray or a digital scan. It only takes a few minutes.
• We shape the guard to that mold. The impression guides a guard made for that exact bite, so it hugs the teeth instead of floating loosely around them.
• We check the fit. Once the guard is ready, you or your child tries it on. We make sure it sits securely, doesn't pinch the gums, and allows comfortable breathing and talking.
• You pick how it looks. In most cases you can choose a style and color. It's a small thing, but an athlete who likes how their guard looks is far more likely to wear it every time.

Curious who you'll be working with? Meet Dr. Heller and Dr. Shin to learn more about the care we provide.

Why a Custom Guard Is Worth It

• Real protection. A snug, properly thick guard absorbs a blow and spreads the force, lowering the chance of a chipped, broken, or knocked-out tooth.
• It guards more than teeth. A good guard cushions the jaw and helps soften impacts that travel up through the bite.
• Comfortable enough to wear every time. Because it's molded to your mouth, it stays put without any clenching to hold it in place.
• Easier breathing. A thin, well-fitted guard doesn't crowd the airway the way bulky drugstore versions do, so you keep your wind up.
• It lasts. Professional-grade materials hold their shape through a full season instead of warping after a few uses.

If a hit does damage a tooth, we also offer dental implants and full mouth restoration to bring a smile back. We'd much rather help you avoid that, though, which is the whole point of a good guard.

Who Should Wear One

Anyone who plays a high-contact or collision sport should have a mouthguard — whether that's you or your child. Football, soccer, wrestling, basketball, hockey, and martial arts all put teeth in harm's way. So do activities people don't always think of, like gymnastics and skating, where a single fall can do plenty of damage.

If you or your child wears braces, we'll design a guard that protects both the teeth and the brackets instead of fighting against them. Just let us know about any orthodontic work so we get it right.

What to Expect, Start to Finish

Plan on two short visits with a week or two of lab time in between, and you'll have a finished guard in hand.

Once it's ready, a custom guard for an adult typically holds up for a couple of seasons. For a growing child, plan to recheck it more often as new teeth come in and shift. If you have questions before getting started, our team can walk you through the whole process, or you can review our patient center ahead of time.

Preparing for the Visit and Caring for the Guard

There's almost nothing to prep beforehand. Just brush before you come in — or have your child do the same — so we get a clean, accurate impression. Keeping the finished guard in good shape afterward is simple:

• Rinse it with cool water before and after each use, and brush it gently with a toothbrush now and then.
• Store it in a firm, ventilated case so it keeps its shape and dries out. Loose in a gym bag is how guards get crushed.
• Keep it away from heat. Hot water, a dishwasher, or a sunny car seat can warp the material and ruin the fit.
• Bring it along to regular checkups so we can look it over for wear and confirm it still fits.
• If it cracks, develops a hole, or starts feeling loose, it's time for a new one.

A guard that's looked after well does its job for as long as possible, and that's exactly what we want for your smile — and your family's.

Cost and Payment

What a custom mouthguard costs depends on the type of guard and whether we're fitting one person or a few people in the family.

We'll go over the price with you before we begin, so there are no surprises, and we're glad to talk through payment options and any dental coverage you have.

Compared with what it takes to repair a damaged tooth, a custom guard is a small, sensible way to protect your you or your family's smiles.

Why Athletes and Families Choose Us for Their Mouthguards

We're a Lewis Center practice that has spent more than 40 years rebuilding and protecting smiles, so we know exactly what's at stake when a tooth gets knocked loose on the field. Dr. Heller is a prosthodontist and implant specialist who trained alongside his father, a pioneer in implant dentistry, and Dr. Shin brings that same care to everyday dentistry and implant work. We've seen the injuries a good guard prevents, and we'd rather fit you or your athlete for one than repair the damage afterward.

Every guard we make comes from your own impressions, is fitted in person, and gets adjusted until it feels right. Individual athletes and families across Lewis Center and the greater Columbus area trust us with the small protective work like this and the bigger restorative care alike, and a mouthguard appointment gets the same attention as anything else we do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can't I just buy a mouthguard at the store?

You can, and the stock and boil-and-bite versions at the pharmacy are inexpensive. The trade-off is fit. They tend to be bulky, sit loosely, and make breathing harder, which is why so many end up unworn. A custom guard is molded to the teeth, so it's thinner, stays in place, and gives you the protection you're actually after.

Does my child still need one if they wear a helmet or faceguard?

Yes. Helmets and faceguards block some impacts, but they don't shield teeth from a stray elbow, a fall, or a hit that catches from the side. A mouthguard covers the gap they leave.

My child's guard still seems to fit. Do we need a new one?

Maybe not yet, but kids' mouths change fast as new teeth come in. Bring the current guard to your child's next checkup and we'll see whether it still fits snugly. A guard that's grown loose doesn't protect the way it should.

How long will a custom mouthguard last?

For an adult, a well-cared-for guard usually holds up through a season or two. Heavy grinders or clenchers may go through them faster. For growing children, expect to replace them more often as their teeth shift.

Can my child get a guard with braces on?

Yes, and it's a smart move. A guard cushions the lips and cheeks against the brackets during contact while shielding the teeth themselves. Just tell us about the orthodontic work so we design it the right way.

Let's Protect That Smile

A few minutes for a custom mouthguard now can spare you or your family a painful, expensive dental injury later. If you've got a season of sports coming up, we'd be happy to get you and your family fitted with a guard made just for them, and we can talk through any other questions about their dental care while you're in.

Call us at (614) 885-1215 and we'll find a time that works.