Custom mouthguards — built for your bite
Professionally fitted custom sports mouthguards and occlusal splints (night guards) at Sienna Smiles, Hilbert. The Australian Dental Association reports that up to one-third of dental injuries in Australian athletes occur during sport — a custom-fabricated mouthguard, made from a precise dental impression in a certified laboratory, provides a more precise fit, broader coverage, and more even force distribution compared with over-the-counter alternatives.
Custom fit. Real protection.
A custom sports mouthguard is professionally fitted to your dental anatomy, fabricated from a detailed alginate or digital impression taken at the practice. According to the Australian Dental Association, custom-fitted mouthguards offer more even force distribution across the dental arch compared with boil-and-bite alternatives — the result is an appliance that stays in place, permits normal nasal respiration and verbal communication, and may help reduce the risk of orofacial trauma during contact and collision sport.
Custom vs boil-and-bite
| Feature | Custom (Sienna Smiles) | Boil-and-bite (over-the-counter) |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Precision-fitted to your exact dental anatomy | Generic form — may gap or shift during play |
| Protection | Even force distribution across all teeth | Uneven thickness — reduced protective capacity |
| Breathing | Allows normal nasal breathing — no bulk in airway | Thicker bulk may restrict breathing and speech |
| Longevity | Typically 1–2 seasons with proper care | Degrades faster — often needs replacing mid-season |
Fit
Custom
Precision-fitted to your exact dental anatomy
Boil-and-bite
Generic form — may gap or shift during play
Protection
Custom
Even force distribution across all teeth
Boil-and-bite
Uneven thickness — reduced protective capacity
Breathing
Custom
Allows normal nasal breathing — no bulk in airway
Boil-and-bite
Thicker bulk may restrict breathing and speech
Longevity
Custom
Typically 1–2 seasons with proper care
Boil-and-bite
Degrades faster — often needs replacing mid-season
Sports we commonly fit for
- AFL
- Rugby union & league
- Cricket
- Netball
- Hockey (field & ice)
- Martial arts
- Boxing
- Basketball
Team colours available
Team colours and personalised designs can be incorporated into your custom mouthguard. Ask at your fitting appointment.
ADA recommendation
The Australian Dental Association recommends custom-fitted mouthguards for all participants in contact and collision sports. Research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that athletes wearing custom mouthguards experienced significantly fewer dental and orofacial injuries than those using store-bought alternatives or no protection.
Protecting your teeth while you sleep
Bruxism — the clinical term for involuntary teeth grinding or clenching — is a common parafunctional habit that frequently occurs during sleep (sleep bruxism) or periods of stress (awake bruxism). HealthDirect Australia estimates that bruxism affects approximately 5–10% of the adult population, though many cases go undiagnosed because the habit typically occurs unconsciously during sleep. The signs are often first identified by a dentist at a routine check-up through observable patterns of enamel attrition.
Common signs of bruxism
- Worn, flattened, or chipped tooth enamel
- Jaw muscle soreness, particularly in the morning
- Tension headaches on waking
- Increased tooth sensitivity to temperature
- Facial pain or tightness around the jaw joint (TMJ area)
- Disturbed sleep reported by a partner
How a night guard may help
An occlusal splint (night guard) is a custom-fabricated intraoral appliance worn over the maxillary (upper) or mandibular (lower) teeth during sleep. It creates a protective barrier between the upper and lower dental arches, which may help attenuate the compressive and shear forces transmitted to the dentition and supporting periodontium during parafunction. According to HealthDirect Australia, an occlusal splint does not eliminate the grinding reflex itself, but it can help reduce the cumulative physical damage to enamel, existing restorations, and the temporomandibular joint over time.
Clinical note
Night guards at Sienna Smiles are custom-fabricated in a dental laboratory from a precise impression of your teeth. Over-the-counter alternatives are not custom-fitted and may not provide the same level of comfort or protective coverage.
From impression to final fit
All custom mouthguards and night guards at Sienna Smiles are fabricated by a certified dental laboratory from an impression taken at the practice. Turnaround is typically two weeks.
Consultation & impression
Your dentist discusses your needs — sport type, grinding symptoms, or both. A dental impression is taken of your teeth, along with a bite registration where required. The impression is sent to our dental laboratory.
Laboratory fabrication
The dental laboratory fabricates your custom guard from the impression model. Sports mouthguards are typically constructed from dual-layered ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) using a pressure-lamination technique for uniform thickness and optimal shock absorption. Occlusal splints (night guards) are fabricated from hard polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) acrylic or a dual-laminate composite depending on clinical indication and bruxism severity. Turnaround is typically 10–14 business days.
Fit & adjustment appointment
Your guard is checked for fit, retention, and occlusion at a follow-up appointment. Minor adjustments are made chairside to ensure comfort and correct seating. You leave with fitting and care instructions.
Common questions answered
Ready to protect your smile?
With up to one-third of Australian dental injuries occurring during sport (ADA), a custom-fitted mouthguard is one of the most effective forms of orofacial protection available. Book your mouthguard fitting at Sienna Smiles — we take a precise dental impression at your appointment and your custom guard is laboratory-fabricated and ready for fitting in approximately two weeks.