Mouth Guards & Dental Appliances
At Dentistry in Bolton, we offer our patients various types of dental appliances to help protect their mouth health and development, such as mouth guards and palate expansion.
Mouth Guards
Mouth guards, also known as sports guards or athletic mouth protectors, are crucial pieces of equipment for any child or adult participating in potentially injurious recreational or sporting activities.
Fitting snugly over the upper teeth, mouth guards help protect the entire oral region from traumatic injury, preserving both the aesthetic appearance and the health of the smile. In addition, mouth guards are sometimes used to prevent tooth damage in those who grind their teeth at night (bruxism).
Learn More About Mouth Guards
Other Appliances at Dentistry in Bolton
- Space Maintainers
When baby teeth fall out too early, space maintainers or “spacers” are inserted as placeholders until the permanent teeth are ready to erupt. There are two main types of space maintainer - fixed or removable. Your dentist will determine the best option for your situation.
- Thumb Sucking Appliances
Children who continue to thumb suck after the age of five or six (especially vigorously) risk oral complications. These complications include: narrowed arches, impacted teeth, and misaligned teeth. The “palatal crib” appliance usually stops thumb sucking immediately.
- Expansion Appliances
An overbite or a crossbite can be corrected with an expansion appliance. The expansion appliance is used to stretch and widen the arch, providing enough space for the teeth to be realigned in a straight manner. Expansion appliances are custom-made and can be affixed to the inside or the outside of the teeth.
- Bionator
In general, the bionator positions the lower jaw forward, helping the teeth to erupt and align properly. This dental appliance is successful in reducing extensive orthodontic treatments later on and helps to promote natural-looking alignment.