Whether you’re a competitive athlete or play recreational sports for fun, protecting your teeth from impact should be a priority. A single collision on the field, court, or ice can result in chipped, fractured, or even knocked-out teeth that require extensive treatment and cause lasting consequences. Sport guards offer a simple yet effective solution to safeguard your smile while you focus on peak performance.
At Alber Dental Studio in Boulder, CO, we understand the importance of protecting your investment in your smile. Dr. Marc Alber and Dr. Lauren Llorente provide custom sport guards designed to fit comfortably and offer superior protection during athletic activities. With over 26 years of combined experience and a commitment to using the latest dental technology, we create personalized mouthguards that keep you safe without compromising your ability to breathe, speak, or stay focused on the game.
Sports-related dental injuries are more common than many athletes realize, affecting participants of all ages and skill levels. Research from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry shows that during the 2020-2021 school year, nearly 19 percent of reported high school sports injuries occurred to the head and face region. Athletes who don’t wear mouthguards face significantly higher risks, with studies indicating that the risk of orofacial injury is 1.6 to 1.9 times higher without proper protection.
Custom sport guards serve multiple protective functions beyond just shielding your teeth. They cushion the impact from blows to the face, distribute force across a wider area, and help prevent soft tissue injuries to your lips, cheeks, and tongue. By providing a barrier between your upper and lower teeth, sport guards reduce the risk of jaw injuries and may even help minimize the severity of certain head impacts. Whether you participate in high-contact sports like football and hockey or lower-contact activities like basketball and gymnastics, a well-fitted mouthguard is essential equipment.
When shopping for athletic protection, you’ll encounter three main types of mouthguards, each offering different levels of fit, comfort, and protection. Stock mouthguards come pre-formed and ready to wear but offer minimal customization and often feel bulky or uncomfortable. Boil-and-bite guards provide a semi-custom fit by softening in hot water and molding to your teeth, representing a middle ground between convenience and protection. Custom-fabricated sport guards created by your dentist offer the highest level of protection, comfort, and durability.
Custom sport guards from Alber Dental Studio provide significant advantages over over-the-counter alternatives. We create your guard using precise impressions of your teeth, ensuring a secure fit that stays in place during intense activity. The personalized design allows for proper breathing and clear speech, addressing two of the most common complaints athletes have about generic mouthguards. Our custom guards use high-quality materials that offer superior shock absorption while remaining comfortable enough to wear throughout practices and competitions.
The American Dental Association recommends wearing properly fitted mouthguards in 29 different sports and recreational activities. While some sports like football and ice hockey mandate mouthguard use, many other activities with significant injury risk do not have such requirements. Basketball, soccer, wrestling, and martial arts all carry substantial risk of dental trauma yet rarely require protective equipment. Even non-contact sports like gymnastics and skateboarding can result in facial injuries from falls or collisions with equipment.
Athletes with orthodontic treatment such as braces face additional concerns, as metal brackets and wires can cut the inside of the mouth during impact. Sport guards designed for orthodontic patients provide essential protection for both your teeth and the soft tissues of your mouth. Young athletes whose teeth are still developing benefit especially from consistent mouthguard use, as damage to permanent teeth at an early age can create a lifetime of dental complications and expenses.
Our process for creating custom sport guards begins with a comprehensive evaluation of your mouth and discussion of your athletic needs. Dr. Alber or Dr. Llorente will take detailed impressions of your teeth to ensure your guard fits precisely and comfortably. We consider factors like your bite alignment, jaw position, and the specific sport you play when designing your custom protection. The result is a mouthguard tailored specifically to your mouth that provides maximum protection without interfering with your performance.
Your custom sport guard should feel comfortable enough to wear for extended periods without causing jaw fatigue or difficulty breathing. We carefully evaluate the fit at your delivery appointment and make any necessary adjustments to ensure optimal comfort and protection. Proper care extends the life of your sport guard significantly. We recommend rinsing your guard with cool water after each use, cleaning it regularly with a toothbrush and mild soap, and storing it in a ventilated case. Bring your sport guard to dental checkups so we can inspect it for wear and determine when replacement is necessary.
At Alber Dental Studio, we’re passionate about helping Boulder athletes of all ages stay safe while pursuing their athletic goals. Dr. Alber’s expertise with advanced dental technology ensures your sport guard incorporates the latest materials and design principles for optimal protection and comfort. We also offer convenient scheduling options and flexible payment plans through CareCredit, Cherry, and Altheon to make protecting your smile accessible for every athlete. Many families appreciate that our internal membership plan covers preventive care and provides savings on protective equipment like sport guards.
Don’t wait until after an injury to protect your smile. Dr. Marc Alber and Dr. Lauren Llorente are ready to create a custom sport guard that keeps you safe and comfortable during every practice, game, and competition. Our team combines decades of experience with cutting-edge dental technology to deliver personalized protection that fits your unique needs. Contact Alber Dental Studio today to schedule your consultation and discover why Boulder athletes trust us for their dental care and athletic protection.
Alber dental is a truly outstanding practice. By far the best dental practice I have visited. Every person there cares deeply about their patients and providing a comfortable, relaxing and extremely professional experience for their guests. Cannot recommend highly enough.
A true 5 stars experience. I’m a new patient. Had a great experience under the care of two lovely and skilled hygienists, both highly knowledgeable and with good manner. My interactions with Dr Alber were also very pleasant, filled with great info and advice and without the feeling badgering salesmanship of upselling me on orthodontics I know I don’t need. Overall, very content and will be happy to return.
Having recently moved to Boulder, I feel lucky to have found this dental practice. They carefully diagnosed and quickly addressed the problems I had with a couple of teeth. All of the staff are very knowledgeable and communicate well.I feel that they know and care about their patients, and I’ve learned a lot about teeth!
I had a very good experience at Alber Dental. The technology is modern and efficient with crowns and onlays completed in under two hours. Everyone I interacted with are professional, polite and happy to answer questions. On top of that, they accept my insurance.
Dr. Alber is the best. He employs the best hygienists who use the best instruments, he provides the latest gadgets ensuring patient comfort. The office is comfortable. I will never have another dentist
I have been a patient of Dr. Alber for several years now, and am very pleased with him and his team. They are professional, compassionate, and efficient. I highly recommend them.
We LOVE going here and feel such a relief to have them! Wouldn’t want any other dentist for my family.
Whole office is supportive and friendly. Dr. Alber is skilled and works quickly.
I’ve been a patient for 20+ years. Goes to show that I rather not try any other dentist. Every one of Dr Alber’s staff is exceptional.
Absolutely the best experience I’ve ever had!! I’m extremely picky about dentists and hygienists. This team has it dialed in to the moon and back!!
