under armor mouthguard

[mack 44]

Not that I'd buy the above one, but I have no problem splurging on a mouthguard as long as it's guaranteed to do its job. I'd rather pay a couple hundred for it than a couple hundred on dental work, plus the subsequent pain.

[jsmart 0]

This is not rocket science, it's basic anatomy. Let's clear up a few things here...

Clenching the jaw triggers the production and release of a cascade of hormones, including cortisol, the stress hormone. ANY (not just UAs) sport guard prevents teeth clenching and relieves pressure on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). By preventing the excessive production of hormones, the body is able to perform more efficiently.

peck 12 -- Sports guard materials are less than $1 per sheet, even with an hour of labor there may be $50 in a custom sports guard. Nowhere near $100.

kitay4 -- your dentist will not be sending anything to the UA factory -- they don't have a lab, in fact they don't even distribute the materials to make the appliance. He/She will send it to a lab that is set up to make them.

crookedwookie -- Bite Tech, Inc. developed and manufactures the technology with the UA name on it. As a side UA has absolutely nothing to do with the product, nor do they own Bite Tech. It is manufactured by Bite Tech, sent to an exclusive dental products distributor, and then sent to labs or dentist. It never even enters a UA facility.

Back to the topic at hand:

You have three options for sports guards:

1. Boil and Bit - $1-$40 -- You know the drill -- Minimal protection as it thins in areas, causes difficulty in speech and breathing.

2. Mail Order - $60 or so -- Take your own impression, send it to a lab, get back a sports guard that will work as well as any other custom sports guard (or a UA sports guard) as long as it fits. -- Custom made so it's very protective, excellent fit, comfortable, minimal interference with breathing and speech. One downside is you wait for the kit and wait to get it back and hope it fits right. If not you send it back out for repair or a new one.

3. Dentist/Laboratory -- $100-$150 -- Professional Lab or $300-$500 -- to see your dentist -- Keep in mind this is the EXACT same product from both, just at an inflated cost to see your dentist. Custom made so it's very protective, excellent fit, comfortable, minimal interference with breathing and speech. About half the dentists send these out to labs to get done so if the first fit is poor you wait for it to go out and get fixed. A Professional Lab will fix it on the spot so you know you leave with the perfect fit (and you save some money).

Now you have the facts go get a sports guard and don't be fooled by the marketing hype. And no I don't work for any of these people.

[IniNew 53]

Does that mean its a good thing in every picture I've seen of myself playing hockey my jaw is hanging wide open? lol

[jsmart 0]

Does that mean its a good thing in every picture I've seen of myself playing hockey my jaw is hanging wide open? lol

Not really...

no mouthguard -- your not clinching so that's a good thing (also abnormal), but if you get hit in the mouth you get your teeth knocked out -- not good!

mouthguard -- your upper teeth are protected, lowers are not so if you get hit in the mouth with your mouth open you can kiss your bottom teeth goodbye...not good!

[usahockey22 0]

A quick review of some ACTUAL scientific studies available on pubmed (not a daytime TV sales pitch on youtube) will show you all that these claims about "performance enhancing" mouthguards are not backed by any real data. There have been studies done showing no significant performance difference between mouthguard use and non mouthguard use.

It's just personal preference; if you need to wear a mouthguard, maybe some will be more comfortable, etc., but sorry, they won't make you stronger, faster, or less fatigued.

[jsmart 0]

A quick review of some ACTUAL scientific studies available on pubmed (not a daytime TV sales pitch on youtube) will show you all that these claims about "performance enhancing" mouthguards are not backed by any real data. There have been studies done showing no significant performance difference between mouthguard use and non mouthguard use.

It's just personal preference; if you need to wear a mouthguard, maybe some will be more comfortable, etc., but sorry, they won't make you stronger, faster, or less fatigued.

I presented scientific data above, contrary to everything you just wrote.

Numerous published papers, support that a mandibular orthodontic repositioning appliance (sports guard for the laymen) provides some beneficial physiological effect. Even two tongue depressors held between the molars permit some degree of bodily strength enhancement.

I'm guessing PubMed would have an article titled "Performance-enhancing mouth wear and craniofacial neurometabolic physiology" or perhaps "Performance enhancement and oral appliances." You may want to read them before commenting again on the subject.

It's not personal preference it's scientific studies which have been performed by The Citadel, U of Tennessee, Texas A&M just to name a few. One last thing; you may want to be careful with the slanderous comments as this already went through the courts once.

[frankie56 0]

they won't make you stronger, faster, or less fatigued.

viagra mouthguards?

[Jarick 5]

I didn't have any additional flexibility putting a pen in my mouth.

After wasting 80 bucks on custom fitted earplugs that weren't as good as 5 dollar disposables, I'll stick with the boil and bite.

[usahockey22 0]

I presented scientific data above, contrary to everything you just wrote.

No, sorry, you just presented a post that had claims with no citations. I didn't present scientific data either, but I noted where people could find it.

Numerous published papers, support that a mandibular orthodontic repositioning appliance (sports guard for the laymen) provides some beneficial physiological effect. Even two tongue depressors held between the molars permit some degree of bodily strength enhancement.

I wonder where your links are to these "numerous" papers, because I couldn't find any.

I'm guessing PubMed would have an article titled "Performance-enhancing mouth wear and craniofacial neurometabolic physiology" or perhaps "Performance enhancement and oral appliances." You may want to read them before commenting again on the subject.

It's not personal preference it's scientific studies which have been performed by The Citadel, U of Tennessee, Texas A&M just to name a few. One last thing; you may want to be careful with the slanderous comments as this already went through the courts once.

The articles and studies I read concluded that there was no significant difference between the groups wearing mouthguards and the groups not wearing mouthguards. Maybe the others you speak of are out there, and maybe they aren't. At the very least, there are studies that contradict your claims.

You and everyone else here are welcome to go search pubmed and other databases for yourselves if you don't want to take my word for it. As for "slanderous comments", well, you seem to be taking some personal offense here at what's been said about your precious mouthguards. Do you work for one of the many companies that is hocking "performance" mouthguards or have some interest in selling them? You might want to be careful throwing around big legal terms in some threatening manner, when you clearly don't understand them or US law...

viagra mouthguards?

:D These would probably be cheaper, and enhance "performance" better than the other kind!

[jsmart 0]

Let me try and keep this simple.

I gave you basic anatomy about the TMJ and the production of Cortisol. Who do you want me to site...Grant, The University of Michigan, University of Wales College of Medicine, I think they all agree.

Next, I cleared up a few misconceptions about how and where sports guards were made and the cost.

Then as an added bonus I even gave the fine members here a few options, complete with what they can expect to pay for a custom or semi-custom sports guard. Just what the OP asked for, and a little more.

Finally I concluded with:

Now you have the facts go get a sports guard and don't be fooled by the marketing hype. And no I don't work for any of these people.

Warning the members about getting caught up in the hype (which most of the UA marketing materials are) and firmly stating I don't work for any of the people mentioned in my post.

Then after your post I gave you the titles of the articles that you can find on PubMed along with a few accredited centers for higher education that have also done studies. You even quoted the article titles in your response. Go do a search for them. They are there, I just checked. Here's a few more titles of studies right off of PubMed that back my earlier statement -- "Effects of mouthpiece use on auditory and visual reaction time in college males and females", "Effects of mouthpiece use on airway openings and lactate levels in healthy college males."

Hell here are some links:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19774773

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19774774

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19774772

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19583574

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17614035

Now while you may find an study somewhere that did not find "significant differences" in performance while wearing a mouth guard, I will bet you a brand new stick of your choice that you will not find a single dentist or doctor anywhere in North America that would tell you not to wear a sports guard while playing hockey. That's real data from real people!

And just in case I didn't make it clear before I am in the field of Dentistry, but have no association with any of the companies mentioned.

I only take offense to ignorance when the information is readily available, has been shared, and the said ignorance could lead to a person making a decision based on their "personal preference" that could put their health at risk.

One thing you did get right is I don't understand the law, nor do I claim to. What I do understand is similar statements were made by UA's competitors and they quickly slapped them with a lawsuit. As you can clearly see they have not changed their marketing literature nor is anyone challenging their validity.

I think that should clear this up. Thanks for the exchange usahockey it was fun.

[Law Goalie 147]

jsmart, many thanks for the detailed information and citations; it's appreciated.

As you may know, mouthguards are almost never worn by goalies. They're a total non-issue, in my experience: because it's almost impossible to take direct impacts to the jaw or teeth in a mask, because we are rarely if ever subject to those kinds of impacts, and because we're so heavily reliant on specific and nuanced communication.

Based on those studies, I am seriously beginning to wonder whether a mouthguard might greatly improve my on-ice comfort and pleasure, to say nothing of performance (cue the viagra jokes again). Are there certain kinds of mouthguards, or certain ways of making them, that minimise speech impediment while worn?

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

http://www.shockdoctor.com/product/gravity...mouthguard.aspx

I use this. Unlike the other mouthgaurds I've used, this one rests on your bottom teeth. This is the only mouthgaurd that I've tried that has allowed me to speak clearly.

[jsmart 0]

No problem, glad I can help.

I didn't think about goalies...Anyway the key to being able to communicate while wearing the sports guard is fit. Any of the custom methods I described in my first post would work. Mail order is your best bet if you just want to see how/if it works for you.

[Law Goalie 147]

Gotcha: as long as it's well-fitted, interference should be minimal. I just wanted to make sure there weren't specific things I should ask for, like "low profile" or "doesn't make me sound as inarticulate as an ox".

Is there a way (or ay advantage) to get a partial guard that only covers the rear molars? It seems like that's where the critical clenching happens, and I found when wearing them for football and rugby that most of the impediment was to the way the tongue moved in between the palate and front teeth. Because frontal impacts are a non-issue, and my teeth are otherwise fit as a fiddle, there seems to be little point in extending the guard forward.

[jsmart 0]

Gotcha: as long as it's well-fitted, interference should be minimal. I just wanted to make sure there weren't specific things I should ask for, like "low profile" or "doesn't make me sound as inarticulate as an ox".

Is there a way (or ay advantage) to get a partial guard that only covers the rear molars? It seems like that's where the critical clenching happens, and I found when wearing them for football and rugby that most of the impediment was to the way the tongue moved in between the palate and front teeth. Because frontal impacts are a non-issue, and my teeth are otherwise fit as a fiddle, there seems to be little point in extending the guard forward.

It will take a little getting used to but you'll be back to sounding like yourself in no time. It's like skates; custom is custom.

While I have been a bit critical of UA they did have the foresight to have a mouth piece designed for them that does just cover the back teeth. Designed for non-contact sports or goalies. :D

[Law Goalie 147]

Hey, that's a half truth! :P

[usahockey22 0]

Then after your post I gave you the titles of the articles that you can find on PubMed along with a few accredited centers for higher education that have also done studies. You even quoted the article titles in your response. Go do a search for them. They are there, I just checked. Here's a few more titles of studies right off of PubMed that back my earlier statement -- "Effects of mouthpiece use on auditory and visual reaction time in college males and females", "Effects of mouthpiece use on airway openings and lactate levels in healthy college males."

Hell here are some links:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19774773

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19774774

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19774772

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19583574

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17614035

I think that should clear this up. Thanks for the exchange usahockey it was fun.

No, it does not clear it up. Did you even bother to read all the links that you posted here? They hardly conclude anything about mouthguards and sports performance...

Yes, the first link shows that lactate levels were lower in those using mouthguards. This is generally a good thing, but of course the study is not actually measuring performance levels, and you'd have to do further tests to see if the lower lactate levels necessarily lead to increased performance.

Link #2 looks good, though the significance of a couple milliseconds difference in reaction time between those using and those not using mouthguards is highly questionable.

Link 3 gives no results, conclusions, or any data whatsoever...thanks for that one, it makes your list of "sources" look bigger, but it's not worth reading.

From your fourth link, to a study done on a sample size of 21 people:

No significant differences were observed between the two conditions (with or without CM mouth guards) in 20 m sprint time, jumping tests, handgrip strength, isometric leg or back strength. On the other hand, peak power and average power in Wingate Anaerobic Test and Hamstring Isokinetic Peak Torque significantly increased as a result of wearing mouth guard (P < 0.05).

Some possible improvement there, but dubious.

Finally, the only real improvement to be found in your fifth study was in subjective "interference ratings", and not in actual performance measurements. That study concluded, "The present study demonstrated that a custom-made mouthguard does not significantly affect or reduce maximum exercise performance of athletes." Its measured performance results even contradicted claims of increased oxygen uptake in mouthguard users, if you would take the time to read. No difference in oxygen uptake measured here...

So, hey, if that's the best you can come up with on the side of mouthguards and performance, it seems you haven't cleared up anything.

Now, if you'd like to check out some other studies backing what I've said (try to read them this time), here they are with relevant excerpts:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16888465

"Visual reaction time, explosive power, ventilation at rest, and ventilation and oxygen consumption during submaximal and maximal exercise were measured in three randomized conditions: normal, with SA mouthguards, or with CM mouthguards...CONCLUSIONS: Wearing a maxillary mouthguard does not affect the main physiological parameters generally associated with team sport performance."

Here's one that's particularly relevant, because it involved hockey players, skating on hockey treadmills for the study. It's not particularly promising for your argument:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15867558

"VO2 at maximal effort (VO2max) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) using the mouthguard...CONCLUSIONS: Noncustom bimolar mouthguards may reduce ventilation and oxygen uptake at maximal efforts by female ice hockey players."

Given that there are only a handful of studies out there measuring the relationship between mouthguard use and sports performance, and that some of the results are contradictory, your factual claims earlier about mouthguards leading to increased performance are really not supported by the science. Mouthguards are clearly good at preventing oral injuries during sports, but the claims about increased performance are just not based on any real, good data.

Hell, if the lack of data for your side isn't enough, just go out there and survey hockey players about mouthguards. "Performance" in a team sport such as hockey also very much depends upon communication...ask any hockey player how easy it is to communicate while using a mouthguard. Furthermore, ask them how easy it is to breathe with one, and the responses will echo the results of that last study I posted where ventilation and oxygen uptake were negatively affected...

[Law Goalie 147]

To be fair, he has been advocating custom mouthguards throughout; the final study you posted only drew conclusions about non-custom guards.

More to the point, the first study you posted concluded that B&B and custom mouthguards did not significantly affect performance in any way - positively or negatively: thus, adding protection without serious detriment. Admittedly, this study was looking at different measures (visual reaction-time vs. auditory in one previous study) and broader measures than some, but that level of detail is useful.

I think it would be fair to say that based on the research posted, custom mouthguards add protection without sacrificing any broad measures of performance, while adding significant underlying performance in some specific neuromuscular situations which *may* come into play in the course of any athletic event.

The issue of communication is one that I had raised previously. While I can't speak directly to it, I'm pretty sure there have been studies of changes in speech pathology with custom and non-custom guards, and efforts made to minimise that. Bottom line: speech will never be entirely natural, but it may be close enough for the relatively simple directions usually made in-game.

[jsmart 0]

Yes, the first link shows that lactate levels were lower in those using mouthguards. This is generally a good thing, but of course the study is not actually measuring performance levels, and you'd have to do further tests to see if the lower lactate levels necessarily lead to increased performance.

No I wouldn't, they have been done. And here are the results.

"The acidity generated inside muscle cells when lactic acid builds up can be detrimental in two different ways. During intense or prolonged exercise lactic acid build up is the reason that fatigue occurs. For some very short duration athletic events most energy is derived from the anaerobic (lactic acid) mechanism and training for such events aims to create tolerance to high lactate levels. The other way in which lactic acid can be damaging is in training for events where energy is derived from aerobic metabolism. In this situation above-threshold levels maintained during the greater part of training is believed to impair energy production and hence performance.

Can you argue with that? OK improved performance, +1 for me.

Link #2 looks good, though the significance of a couple milliseconds difference in reaction time between those using and those not using mouthguards is highly questionable.

Question all you want 1 millisecond is an enhancement so is 2. Is it not? I see you also disregard the auditory improvement "Auditory results showed a significant improvement with the use of a mouthpiece (241.44 ms) vs without a mouthpiece (249.94 ms)." Additional performance improvement, +2 for me.

And since you didn't take the time to actually look up the article in the third link...here it is.

http://www.compendiumlive.com/article.php?id=2911

In fact I'll save you some time; here is the second paragraph:

"Mor the past 40 years, it has been suggested that mandibular position could affect upper body strength and, hence, athletic performance. In the 1980s, this concept seemed to have little scientific support and was highly criticized. More recently, research suggests mandibular position and oral appliances positively affect not only upper body strength, but also endurance, recovery after athletic competition, concentration, and stress response.. This information could revolutionize the practice of dentistry. This paper reviews the literature and details the early research regarding mandibular position, clenching, and oral appliances and their effects on physiology and human performance."

I could stop here as it is clear you are wrong, or you still live in the 80's but why? By the way that makes it 3-0.

On to number 4:

To re-quote the study: " No significant differences were observed between the two conditions (with or without CM mouth guards) in 20 m sprint time, jumping tests, handgrip strength, isometric leg or back strength. On the other hand, peak power and average power in Wingate Anaerobic Test and Hamstring Isokinetic Peak Torque significantly increased as a result of wearing mouth guard (P < 0.05).

Another significant increase in two tests, while no difference was noted in the others. More real data showing "significant" performance increases in standardized test with a mouth guard in. Hmmmm are we seeing a trend yet? I am 4-0.

Finally I see you failed to recognize the point of the fifth article which not only shows an increased workload with the mouth guards vs. without ("Objectively, the maximum workload during spiroergometry was even slightly elevated during exercise with the mouthguard (330.2 W) compared to exercise without the mouthguard (314.5 W).") , but also speaks to a persons ability to adjust to a mouth guard.

Since the study does concede no difference we'll call it a draw and objective reporting on my part.

Now, if you'd like to check out some other studies backing what I've said (try to read them this time), here they are with relevant excerpts:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16888465

I must have read further than you as you failed to provide the last line of this abstract:

"These results provide additional support to the policy of encouraging athletes to wear individually fitted maxillary mouthguards."

I'll give you half a point for effort here, but clearly this study supports the use of a individually fitted mouth guard. To update the score: 4 points to 1/2 point, as I was feeling generous.

Which brings us to your next article. I would never promote the use of a non-custom mouth guard, nor would I advocate one in any contact sport which makes not only the article, but your last comment irrelevant; but for fun, let's look at it.

Hell, if the lack of data for your side isn't enough, just go out there and survey hockey players about mouthguards. "Performance" in a team sport such as hockey also very much depends upon communication...ask any hockey player how easy it is to communicate while using a mouthguard. Furthermore, ask them how easy it is to breathe with one, and the responses will echo the results of that last study I posted where ventilation and oxygen uptake were negatively affected...

Lack of data. Ha! 6 studies supporting the use of a custom mouth guard and one telling you the negatives of a boil and bite. I wouldn't call that lack of data. With that said I don't really need to survey hockey players about mouth guards I already have the data, and I already provided it in my first post. Further I explained to Law that it may take a little getting used to for communication (as shown in my previous data), a custom mouth guard will have minimal if any impact on communication (also shown in said data). Now to Law's point I quote myself:

1. Boil and Bit - $1-$40 -- You know the drill -- Minimal protection as it thins in areas, causes difficulty in speech and breathing.

Which you then lend additional credence to by posting this study and adding your comments. Thanks for providing a study that tells people what I already told them in my first post.

So...where are we? I presented 4 (actually 5) studies that show either incremental or "significant" performance gains by individuals wearing custom fitted mouth guards. You have given us one article that "encourages athletes to wear a custom fitted mouthguard." Which I also did in my first post, and have ever since. So we have a total of six studies that encourage athletes to wear a custom mouth guard and one that says not to wear a boil and bite; which I already said. Note that in your first post you said it was personal preference if you wanted to wear one or not. I would say at a minimum 6 out of 7 studies disagree, more than likely all 7. So you prove absolutely nothing and in fact only strengthened my contention to "go get a sports guard and don't be fooled by the marketing hype." Once again thank you for the pleasant exchange it has been fun.

Before I go I lay down this challenge to you once more: If you can find one dentist or doctor in North America that will come onto this board and tell me that they do not recommend wearing a custom sports guard while participating in a hockey game I'll buy you the stick of your choice! Find one to come on here and agree with you that it should be personal preference and not encouraged/required and I'll be impressed.

If you'd like to continue this discussion please do so by private message as it is clear you are just taking up space in this post and have nothing relevant to add to the OPs original question, or my suggestion to them.

[Law Goalie 147]

js, with due respect to your expertise and due regard for the level of acrimony that seems to have risen up in this thread, I have found the back and forth between the two of you illuminating on the subject. At the very least, usah22 managed to draw out a few of the more important issues so that you could redress them; I, as an interested layman, appreciated the expansion. Sometimes one needs to hear something reiterated before it sinks in. (Incidentally, I just read a psychology paper about self-directed talk [ie. talking to yourself] during athletic competition - really interesting stuff, especially with respect to repetition of certain key phrases.)

So, again, many thanks for your repeated contributions, but I really don't think there's any need to privatise the discussion, unless usah22, in replying, steps outside the realm of civil argument - which, for the moment, nobody has here.

[jsmart 0]

js, with due respect to your expertise and due regard for the level of acrimony that seems to have risen up in this thread, I have found the back and forth between the two of you illuminating on the subject. At the very least, usah22 managed to draw out a few of the more important issues so that you could redress them; I, as an interested layman, appreciated the expansion. Sometimes one needs to hear something reiterated before it sinks in. (Incidentally, I just read a psychology paper about self-directed talk [ie. talking to yourself] during athletic competition - really interesting stuff, especially with respect to repetition of certain key phrases.)

So, again, many thanks for your repeated contributions, but I really don't think there's any need to privatise the discussion, unless usah22, in replying, steps outside the realm of civil argument - which, for the moment, nobody has here.

First and foremost I'm glad you found it educational.

The point I was trying to make; and continue to try and make, is while you can argue for days if anything good can come out of wearing a custom sports guard (although most data (utilizing today's technology) points to at least incremental performance improvements), I can't think of anyone (maybe someone can) who will tell you that a custom mouth guard in our sport should be "personal preference."

If my tone has grown acrimonious it is because we have been programmed by the boil and bite sports guard that we sacrifice performance (as previously stated -- we do with this type), the ability to communicate (which we also do with this type), and comfort when we wear any sports guard. As shown by the studies sited by both parties above, custom sports guards have come a long way in making improvements to the hindrances listed above with boil and bite. Most people remain uneducated about the custom sports guard option and as such won't promote the use of any sports guard because of their personal experience with boil and bite. If nothing else I think we can all agree that custom sports guards should at least be encouraged for use by today's athletes.

I'll certainly continue this conversation here if the members find it helpful and insightful, and the Mods don't have an issue with the path this thread has taken (if any of them have even read it ;) ). I was concerned that we had gone so far off the original post and outside the hockey realm that most people had grown tired of it. I hope the OP isn't upset we have hijacked your thread.

[Dr. Funk 6]

jsmart, thanks for the insight. As an ER doc/fellow medical practitioner (albeit one who doesn't have a particularly detailed understanding of dental anatomy/physiology), I always appreciate thoughtful evidence-based commentary on safety/performance issues around here.

For what it's worth, my dentist fitted me with a custom piece that I couldn't be happier with. While he's willing to do the UA piece as well, I think that "his" models are just as nice, as well as costing under $250 for the general public. He works at the local academic medical center, and supplies similar guards to all of the university's D-I athletic squads.

To stress to the rest of the group, many dentists will perform an in-office molding/fitting and have your custom piece to you in several weeks, rather than the few months UA quoted me. It couldn't be easier, and I feel that the comfort/safety margin gained is well worth it.

Law, it's my feeling that, if you have a properly-fitted custom guard, your speech won't suffer nearly as much as if you're rocking one of the boil-and-bite styles. I truly think that it's night-and-day with a custom piece.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

To stress to the rest of the group, many dentists will perform an in-office molding/fitting and have your custom piece to you in several weeks, rather than the few months UA quoted me. It couldn't be easier, and I feel that the comfort/safety margin gained is well worth it.

As do I. When I was a few years younger I got fitted by my dentist and got mine a few weeks later. It fit worlds better than the boil and bite and speech was much better. I felt it was easier to breath, but I can't comment on whether it helped my performance because, quite frankly, I suck and probably wouldn't be able to tell much of an incrimental difference anyways. Obviously feeling like you can breathe better is a plus though.

Its been a few years and I think my teeth are moving because I put it in a few weeks ago and could feel my teeth hurting with it in. I suppose its time to go back to the dentist!

[Jarick 5]

When do you guys replace mouthguards? I've had a bit of dental work done and re-boiled mine a couple times, not that it matters much since it goes no the bottom teeth...

[Law Goalie 147]

jsmart, thanks for the insight. As an ER doc/fellow medical practitioner (albeit one who doesn't have a particularly detailed understanding of dental anatomy/physiology), I always appreciate thoughtful evidence-based commentary on safety/performance issues around here.

For what it's worth, my dentist fitted me with a custom piece that I couldn't be happier with. While he's willing to do the UA piece as well, I think that "his" models are just as nice, as well as costing under $250 for the general public. He works at the local academic medical center, and supplies similar guards to all of the university's D-I athletic squads.

To stress to the rest of the group, many dentists will perform an in-office molding/fitting and have your custom piece to you in several weeks, rather than the few months UA quoted me. It couldn't be easier, and I feel that the comfort/safety margin gained is well worth it.

Law, it's my feeling that, if you have a properly-fitted custom guard, your speech won't suffer nearly as much as if you're rocking one of the boil-and-bite styles. I truly think that it's night-and-day with a custom piece.

Thanks, Doc: great post, sums the thread up nicely.