Dental injuries are among the most common sports injuries in youth and adult athletics. The American Dental Association estimates that athletes who do not wear mouthguards are 60 times more likely to suffer dental injury than those who do. A single knocked-out permanent tooth can cost $3,000 to $5,000 to restore with a dental implant - and the process takes months. A custom mouthguard at Mur-Len Family Dentistry costs a fraction of that, requires just one impression appointment, and is one of the most straightforward preventive investments available in dental health.
For student athletes at Olathe South High School, Gardner-Edgerton High School, California Trail Middle School, and throughout Johnson County's youth sports leagues, Mur-Len Family Dentistry provides professional-quality custom mouthguards that athletes actually wear because they actually fit.
Schedule an appointment or call (913) 353-4001.
The Real Difference Between Custom and Store-Bought Mouthguards
There are three types of mouthguards widely available to athletes:
Stock Guards - Pre-formed, Ready to Wear
Stock mouthguards come pre-formed in generic shapes and are available at any sporting goods store for a few dollars. They are the least expensive option and also the least effective. They fit no one's teeth specifically, must be held in place by biting down, make breathing and talking difficult, and provide only marginal protection. Most athletes who try them abandon them quickly. A guard that is not worn provides no protection at all.
Boil-and-Bite Guards - Thermoformable
Boil-and-bite guards are softened in hot water and pressed against the teeth to create a rough approximation of the athlete's bite. They are better than stock guards but still imprecise. The material used in over-the-counter guards is often thicker and bulkier than necessary. They frequently cover too much tissue, trigger gag reflexes, and still do not fit the unique contours of any individual athlete's mouth. Studies comparing custom to boil-and-bite guards consistently show the custom guard provides meaningfully superior protection and significantly higher athlete compliance.
Custom Guards from a Dental Office - Precisely Fitted
Custom mouthguards from Mur-Len Family Dentistry are made from detailed impressions of your athlete's exact teeth. The guard is fabricated in a dental laboratory to fit precisely over every tooth surface. It sits comfortably without being gripped by the bite, allows normal breathing and speech, and can be made in sport-specific materials and thicknesses. Custom guards have a dramatically higher wear rate because athletes actually find them comfortable. And they provide meaningfully superior protection because they fit.
Studies published in the Journal of the American Dental Association show that athletes wearing properly fitted custom mouthguards experience 82 to 93 percent fewer traumatic dental injuries than those not wearing guards. That number alone justifies the investment.
Which Sports Require a Mouthguard
The American Dental Association recommends mouthguards for 29 different sports and exercise activities. The following have mandatory requirements at many organized levels:
- Football - required at virtually all organized levels from youth through professional
- Ice Hockey - required at most youth and amateur levels
- Field Hockey - required at NCAA level and many high school programs
- Lacrosse - required for boys' lacrosse at most levels
- Boxing and Combat Sports - required at all competitive levels
The following sports have high dental injury rates but often lack mandatory mouthguard requirements:
- Basketball - the sport with the highest dental injury rate in US high schools despite no universal mandate
- Soccer - frequent ball impacts, elbows, and collisions create significant dental injury risk
- Baseball and Softball - pitches, batted balls, and fielding plays create injury risk particularly for catchers and infielders
- Wrestling - contact with mat, opponents, and joint manipulation create injury risk
- Gymnastics - falls and apparatus contact create injury risk
- Rugby - high-impact full-contact sport with significant dental injury rates
- Skateboarding, BMX, and Action Sports - falls create high dental injury frequency
- Martial Arts - striking arts carry high dental injury risk
For athletes in any of these activities at any age, a custom mouthguard from Mur-Len Family Dentistry is a sound investment. We serve athletes throughout Olathe, Overland Park, Lenexa, Gardner, Shawnee, De Soto, and the broader Johnson County area.
Getting a Custom Mouthguard at Mur-Len Family Dentistry
Step 1 - Impressions Appointment
The process begins with a brief appointment to take impressions of the upper teeth. This involves placing a tray with a soft impression material over the upper arch for about 60 seconds while the material sets. The impressions are then sent to a dental lab with specifications for the appropriate material type, thickness, and color preference.
Step 2 - Lab Fabrication
The dental lab fabricates the mouthguard over a precise stone model of the athlete's teeth. For most sports, a standard single-layer guard in EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) material in appropriate thickness is fabricated. For higher-contact sports or athletes who have had prior dental injuries, a laminated dual-layer or triple-layer guard with shock-absorbing material may be more appropriate. The lab process takes approximately one to two weeks.
Step 3 - Fitting and Adjustment
At the fitting appointment, the guard is tried in and checked for fit, coverage, and bite comfort. Dr. Warya or Dr. Warya makes any necessary adjustments and confirms that the guard seats properly and allows normal breathing. The athlete tries it in under various jaw movements to confirm comfort before leaving.
The Total Time Commitment
Two short appointments, one to two weeks apart. That is the entire process. Saturday appointments are available for busy school and sports schedules. Call (913) 353-4001.
Mouthguards for Athletes in Orthodontic Treatment
Athletes with braces, expanders, or other orthodontic appliances present a special mouthguard challenge. Standard custom guards cannot be made to fit over braces because the brackets and wires change the tooth surface geometry. However, athletes in orthodontic treatment still need protection - in fact, they need it more, because a blow that dislodges a bracket or wire into the soft tissue can cause significant additional injury.
Mur-Len Family Dentistry provides orthodontic mouthguards designed to protect both the teeth and the orthodontic appliances. Because the bite changes as orthodontic treatment progresses, these guards typically need to be replaced more frequently - often at the start of each sports season. Dr. Warya or Dr. Warya can advise on the appropriate replacement schedule based on your athlete's specific orthodontic plan.
The Cost of Not Having a Mouthguard
Dental injuries in sports fall into several categories, each with its own treatment cost and recovery timeline:
- Chipped or fractured tooth - $150 to $1,500 depending on severity; may require bonding, veneer, or crown
- Luxated (displaced) tooth - $500 to $2,500 for repositioning and splinting, with ongoing monitoring
- Knocked-out (avulsed) permanent tooth - $3,000 to $5,000 for a dental implant; bridge alternatives require reducing adjacent healthy teeth
- Root fracture - may require root canal treatment ($900 to $1,500) and long-term monitoring
- Jaw fracture - oral surgery, potentially multiple procedures, significant recovery time
A custom mouthguard from Mur-Len Family Dentistry costs a small fraction of any of these treatment figures and takes just two short appointments. For athletes competing in any contact or collision sport, this is among the highest-return preventive health investments available.