Whether your child plays weekend footy, you grind at night, or you're looking for real protection during training — a properly fitted mouthguard is one of the simplest things you can do for your teeth.
A dental injury during sport is one of the most preventable things we see — and one of the most expensive to fix. A knocked-out or fractured tooth can mean multiple appointments, a crown or implant, and decades of maintenance that a mouthguard costing a few hundred dollars would have avoided entirely.
The same applies to grinding. Patients who clench at night often don't realise the damage accumulating until they notice sensitivity, worn-down enamel, or a cracked restoration. By that point, the cost to restore what's been lost far exceeds what a simple night guard would have cost years earlier.
We'll help you work out which is right for you — or for your child — at the appointment. Here's a plain-English overview.
Mouthguards sit under our everyday general dentistry, and the teeth under the guard still benefit from Airflow cleaning and deep cleaning.
01 / Active protection
For any contact or collision sport — AFL, rugby, hockey, basketball, boxing, martial arts, and many more. Custom sports guards are fabricated in multiple layers and thicknesses depending on the level of contact involved.
Unlike store-bought options, a custom guard fits snugly so it stays where it should during play. You can breathe and talk normally, which matters during a game.
02 / Night time care
If you clench or grind your teeth while sleeping — something many people don't realise they're doing — a night guard can help protect your enamel, reduce jaw soreness, and take pressure off existing restorations.
We take impressions of your bite to fabricate a guard that fits precisely. It's thin, unobtrusive, and custom-shaped so it stays in comfortably through the night.
03 / Family care
Children's teeth and jaws change quickly. A properly fitted guard should be checked and replaced each season or whenever your dentist advises — usually as the mouth grows and new teeth come through.
The appointment is short, there's no discomfort, and kids can choose from a range of colours — which, in our experience, helps with the wearing-it-consistently part.
You or your child play a contact sport
AFL, rugby league, rugby union, hockey, basketball, netball, soccer, boxing, wrestling, or martial arts. Any sport with body contact or a ball moving at speed warrants protection.
You wake up with jaw stiffness or headaches
Morning jaw soreness, temples that ache, or a partner who says you grind at night — these are the most common signs that a night guard would help.
You have crowns, veneers, or implants
Restorations are expensive. A mouthguard — whether for sport or night grinding — adds a layer of protection that generic options can't match for the precision of the fit.
Your previous guard stopped fitting
Guards wear out, and for children, the jaw changes season to season. If your current guard feels loose, is cracked, or you've been wearing it for more than a year, it's worth having the fit reassessed.
You used to wear one but stopped
Usually because it was uncomfortable. A custom-fitted guard from a dental clinic is a different experience to a boil-and-bite from a chemist. If the fit and comfort are right, you'll actually wear it.
Junior sport is brilliant — and junior dental injuries are almost entirely preventable. Most sports associations now recommend or require mouthguards for contact sport at all age levels, and for good reason.
We make the fitting experience easy for children. There's nothing uncomfortable about the process, and it doesn't take long. Many kids choose their guard colour before we even take the impressions.
The best mouthguard is the one your child doesn't leave in their sports bag. Here's why a fitted guard changes the experience.
Custom guards are made from precise impressions of your teeth. They seat securely and don't move during play — no clenching required to keep them in place.
Store-bought guards are bulky and interfere with breathing during exercise. A custom guard is designed around your specific bite so it's easy to wear for an entire game or session.
We fabricate guards in different thicknesses for different levels of contact. A recreational swimmer needs different protection to a competitive boxer. We'll ask and build accordingly.
If you have crowns, veneers, or implants, a custom guard provides protection that generic options can't match — especially important for night grinding where the forces can be significant.
Custom guards are made from professional-grade materials and typically last far longer than over-the-counter alternatives — better long-term value compared to a single dental injury.
The fitting process takes one short visit. Impressions go to the lab, your guard is ready in around a week. Maintenance is straightforward and we'll walk you through it.
Short visits, no discomfort, and no surprises. Here's exactly what to expect.
We'll ask about the sport you play, how often you train or compete, and whether you have existing dental work we should factor in. If it's for a child, we include them in the conversation.
We take precise impressions of your upper and lower teeth. Straightforward, just a few minutes. For children who are nervous, we take our time and go at their pace.
Your impressions go to a dental lab where your guard is made to specification. We typically ask for around one week's turnaround and will confirm timing when you book.
You come back for a brief fit check. We ensure it seats correctly, feels comfortable, and that you can speak and breathe normally. Any minor adjustments are made on the spot.
We'll explain how to clean and store your guard, how long it should last, and when to come back. For children, we'll also advise on when to have the fit reassessed.
One short visit is usually all it takes. If you have questions before you book, give us a call — we're happy to talk through the options with you first.
Book a fitting (03) 8358 2565Protecting your teeth doesn't take long. One visit, a week's wait, and you'll have a guard that actually fits. Call us or book online — no referral needed.