To Fit With Braces
You can absolutely fit the Protech Dent™ Mouth Guard with braces. However, we strongly advice you to take the mouth guard to your orthodontist or your dentist to get professional help in getting the best fit. He or she will use some kind of barrier against the brackets so that the material, while pliable, doesn’t bond. Typically a string of wax is used and placed against the teeth for a perfect fit.
Dr. Cynthia Fee, DDS and board member of Akervall Technologies have put together some bullet points that you can download and take along with you to your appointment.
Protech Mouth guards and Fixed Orthodontic Appliances (Braces)
- It is not recommended that patients form the Protech Dent™ Mouth Guard themselves over orthodontic braces.
- If the Protech Dent™ Mouth Guard is utilized over braces at a point where moderate tooth movement is taking place (often during the early stages of treatment), most likely the guard will only fit properly for a short period of time.
- Ideally, the mouth guard should be formed by the orthodontist at a point of the orthodontic treatment during which only minor tooth movement is taking place.
- Block-out material (a thinned piece of rope wax for example) must be used to avoid the mouth guard material engaging in the cervical/gingival edge of the bracket and wire.
- Despite the age of the patient, and "Adult" size mouth guard is recommended to have sufficient material to encompass the blocked-out braces.
- Excessive use of block-out material will result in a less retentive mouth guard.
- If the mouth guard is too retentive it may be adjusted simply by re-heating the guard in the specific problem area and adjusting it as needed.
- Instruct the patient to always remove the guard with care around the braces.
Dr. Cynthia L Fee DDS MS
Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
9416 South Main Ste 111
Plymouth , MI - 48170
734-455-2323
