Personalized protection for active children — comfortable, effective guards that safeguard growing smiles during sports and sleep.
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Protecting your child’s teeth during sports activities and while sleeping is essential for maintaining their dental health and preventing potentially costly injuries or damage. Unlike bulky, uncomfortable store-bought options, custom-fitted mouthguards provide superior protection, comfort, and durability tailored specifically to your child’s unique dental anatomy. At Park Smiles NYC, our experienced pediatric team creates high-quality custom mouthguards for both sports protection and nighttime teeth grinding in our kid-friendly Manhattan facility.
Custom mouthguards for children are professionally designed oral appliances precisely created to fit your child’s unique dental anatomy, providing optimal protection and comfort for both sports activities and nighttime teeth grinding (bruxism). Unlike generic store-bought options, these personalized guards are crafted from detailed impressions of your child’s teeth, resulting in a perfect fit that offers superior protection, comfort, and durability.
For active children participating in sports, custom athletic mouthguards provide critical protection against dental injuries, concussions, and soft tissue damage. These specialized guards distribute impact forces effectively while staying securely in place—even during vigorous activity—protecting teeth, gums, and jaws from potential trauma. For children who grind their teeth during sleep (a common childhood occurrence), custom night guards provide a protective barrier that prevents enamel wear, reduces jaw muscle strain, and helps establish healthier sleep patterns.
At Park Smiles NYC, our approach to custom mouthguards emphasizes both effective protection and child-friendly comfort. We select appropriate materials based on your child’s specific needs—thicker, more cushioned materials for high-impact sports or thinner, more comfortable designs for nighttime grinding. Our kid-friendly impression process and attention to proper fit ensure that your child receives a mouthguard they’ll actually wear consistently, providing the protection they need without compromising comfort or speech. Whether for sports safety or nighttime grinding protection, our custom mouthguards offer peace of mind through dental protection specifically designed for your child’s unique needs.
Protect your child with comfortable, effective mouthguards — our Manhattan pediatric team creates custom-fitted protection that safeguards growing smiles during sports and sleep.
Custom mouthguards provide significantly better protection for your child’s teeth and jaws compared to over-the-counter options. The precise fit ensures the guard stays securely in place during activities, distributing impact forces evenly to prevent injuries. For children involved in sports, this superior protection significantly reduces the risk of broken teeth, knocked-out teeth, lip and cheek injuries, and even concussions. For nighttime teeth grinders, custom guards provide targeted protection against enamel wear, reducing the risk of sensitivity, fractures, and jaw pain that can develop from unprotected grinding.
Unlike bulky, uncomfortable store-bought guards that children often refuse to wear, custom mouthguards are precisely fitted to your child’s unique dental anatomy. This personalized fit makes them remarkably more comfortable—they’re less likely to gag, interfere with breathing, or impede speech. Many parents tell us their children actually forget they’re wearing their custom guard during activities, while store-bought versions were constantly being removed or “forgotten” at home. This comfort factor is crucial, as even the best mouthguard provides no protection when it’s left in a locker or equipment bag.
Custom guards offer exceptional durability and value compared to over-the-counter alternatives that often need frequent replacement. The professional-grade materials resist tearing and breakdown, maintaining their protective properties longer. With proper care, a custom guard typically lasts 1-2 sports seasons or about a year of nighttime use, after which your growing child may need a replacement to accommodate dental changes. This durability, combined with superior protection that can prevent costly dental repairs, makes custom mouthguards a wise investment in your child’s oral health and overall wellbeing.
At Park Smiles NYC, our custom mouthguard services are provided by our experienced team of pediatric specialists who understand the unique protection needs of growing smiles. Our staff includes professionals with specific training in oral appliance therapy for children at different developmental stages. Dr. Jessica Brezel Kaplan and Dr. Dascher Branch-Elliman, our dedicated pediatric dentists, bring specialized expertise in creating comfortable, effective protection for children of all ages and activity levels.
Our team’s approach emphasizes both excellent protection and positive patient experiences. We utilize age-appropriate communication to help children understand the importance of mouthguards in non-threatening, even engaging ways. Throughout your child’s visits, our entire staff maintains a supportive, encouraging atmosphere designed to build cooperation with protective appliance use. Our specialists regularly participate in continuing education focused on advances in dental protection for children, ensuring that your child receives the most current and effective protective solutions available.
Our dental team specializes in creating mouthguards specifically designed for children’s unique needs at different developmental stages. We understand the differences in protection requirements for growing dentition compared to adult teeth, including considerations for mixed dentition (when both baby and permanent teeth are present) and ongoing orthodontic treatment. Our specialists select appropriate materials and designs based on your child’s specific age, mouth size, sport played, or grinding patterns. This specialized knowledge ensures optimal protection tailored precisely to your child’s current developmental stage and activity needs.
We’ve designed our mouthguard process to be comfortable and engaging for young patients, transforming what could be an unpleasant experience into a positive one. Our impression techniques are specifically adapted for children, using quick-setting materials and age-appropriate guidance that minimizes gagging or discomfort. For sports guards, we incorporate custom colors and designs that make children proud to wear their protection. Our delivery appointment includes child-friendly instruction that helps establish consistent wearing habits. This specialized approach helps ensure that the mouthguard not only provides excellent protection but actually gets worn consistently—the most important factor in effective protection.
We view mouthguards as one component of complete dental protection, which is why we integrate them into comprehensive care plans for each child. For sports participants, we provide education about additional protective equipment when appropriate and guidance on managing dental emergencies if injuries occur despite protection. For children with nighttime grinding, we address contributing factors like stress or sleep habits alongside providing protective appliances. Regular monitoring during check-ups ensures guards maintain proper fit as your child grows, with recommendations for replacement at appropriate intervals. This thorough approach maximizes protection while supporting your child’s overall dental health and development.
We recommend that children begin wearing sports mouthguards as soon as they participate in any activity with risk for falls, collisions, or impacts—regardless of whether the sport is considered “contact” or not. For many children, this begins around age 5-6 with organized T-ball, soccer, or basketball, though even earlier use may be appropriate for some activities. The primary factor isn’t age but rather the potential for dental impact during the activity. Even in “non-contact” sports like gymnastics, basketball, or baseball, dental injuries are common when protection isn’t worn. For very young children (ages 3-5) participating in organized activities, we can create appropriately sized custom guards that provide protection while accommodating their smaller mouths and developing dentition. As your child grows and their activities become more competitive, we adapt the guard design and materials to provide appropriate protection for increasing levels of impact. During your consultation at Park Smiles NYC, we evaluate your child’s specific activities, developmental stage, and individual risk factors to recommend the optimal time to begin mouthguard protection.
Signs that your child might benefit from a nighttime mouthguard include: visible wear on teeth (flattened chewing surfaces or thinning enamel); grinding sounds during sleep that you can hear from another room; complaints of morning headaches or jaw soreness; facial muscle fatigue or pain upon waking; sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods due to enamel thinning; and chipped or fractured teeth without clear injury cause. It’s important to note that childhood teeth grinding (bruxism) is quite common, affecting approximately 20-30% of children. Many cases are mild and transient, requiring no treatment, while others benefit from protection to prevent damage and discomfort. During your child’s comprehensive evaluation at Park Smiles NYC, we assess signs of grinding, evaluate any resulting damage, and discuss observations you’ve made at home. Based on this information, we can determine if a night guard would be beneficial or if monitoring the situation is more appropriate. For children with significant grinding that’s causing damage or symptoms, a custom night guard provides gentle protection that minimizes consequences while the behavior often naturally resolves with age.
The lifespan of a custom mouthguard for a child depends on several factors, including their growth rate, developmental stage, care of the appliance, and wear patterns. For most growing children, mouthguards typically need replacement every 12-18 months as their dentition changes. During periods of significant dental development (like when permanent teeth are actively erupting around ages 6-8 and 11-13), more frequent replacement every 6-12 months may be necessary to maintain proper fit and protection. Children in active orthodontic treatment may need new guards as their tooth alignment changes significantly, sometimes as often as every 6 months during periods of rapid movement. Regular evaluation of the guard during routine dental check-ups allows us to monitor fit and condition, recommending replacement at the optimal time. With proper cleaning and storage, the materials themselves remain effective for the duration needed before growth necessitates a new appliance. At Park Smiles NYC, our ongoing assessment ensures your child maintains appropriate protection throughout their developmental years, with timely recommendations for replacement when needed.
At Park Smiles NYC in Manhattan, NYC, our mission is to provide every patient with exceptional care, prioritizing comfort, compassion, and excellence at every step.
We are dedicated to delivering outstanding results through personalized attention in a welcoming and supportive environment. Led by Dr. Krystle Kendall, D.M.D., our skilled team offers a full range of top-quality dental services—all conveniently available under one roof in Manhattan.
Our skilled team in Manhattan, NYC is dedicated to offering a comprehensive array of the very best dental services
Prosthodontics & Cosmetic Dentistry
Prosthodontics & Cosmetic Dentistry
Pediatric Dentistry
Pediatric Dentistry
Orthodontics
Oral Surgeon
With Cherry we offer our patients the best “buy now, pay later” solution with high approvals, low cost, and a seamless experience.
At Park Smiles in Manhattan, NYC, we make it easy for you to receive top-quality dental care in a convenient and accessible location. Whether you’re due for a routine checkup or seeking specialized treatment, our friendly team is here to provide exceptional service in a comfortable setting.
We look forward to welcoming you to our office and helping you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile. Schedule your appointment today!
If you are ready to enhance your smile, the experienced cosmetic dentists at Park Smiles NYC are here to help. Our dedicated team offers a comprehensive range of services, from orthodontics to teeth whitening, to meet all your oral health needs. We understand the importance of a healthy smile for your overall well-being and are committed to ensuring your satisfaction throughout your treatment journey.
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