what is the best mouth guard?

techNACITY bjj

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Hello All,

I need a new MMA mouthguard. I was using a 5mm customized from my dentist. However, My front tooth cap (very old) was knocked off last week during some hard sparring. My other front tooth has a root canal so both front teeth are weak.

Damage Control + BAMF seems to have the thickest mouthguard (7mm with PolyShok). My research (clinical studies) indicates that the best mouth guards are modified occlusal mouthguards - essentially mouth guards that align lower and upper jaw. I dont know if I like the idea of having my mouth locked like this though as I have a lot of trouble


What do you guys use? Any tooth stories?

Thanks alot
 
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Hello and thank you for the replies.

I have read the recent peer reviewed studies from academic journals. Two studies recent studies recommended 7.5 mm thickness: 3 mil of polymer, 1.5 mil of acrylic and another 3 mil of polymer.

Either way, the mail order mouth guards are NOT the same and NEVER can be. Why? The molds they send you are not reverse molds. They only capture your teeth. these The molds will NOT capture the full shape of your teeth and upper roof of the mouth. I custom from the dentist sits up on the gums MUCH HIGHER where the root of the tooth sits. This is where maximal protection originates.

Of course, the mail orders are exceptional and will suffice for even pro MMA fighters. BUT they will never compare to the $300 monster i got from my doc. It is only 6 mil BUT the main difference is that he took a tooth mold immediately made a reverse mold and then shaped the guard to fit the entire set of teeth, gums, and upper roof. When you make molds at home they cannot capture the upper roof of the mouth as the mold needs to be taken and then another mold of the teeth using the first mold has to happen immediately in order to capture the exact shape of teeth and gums and roof. I am no dentist. But my dentist is..and he recommends only one lab in all of Canada. He does the molds in office and then sends them away. Trust me: an expensive mouth guard exists for a reason.

THANK you all!!

PS: what do I know? this is just what i have concluded after talking to several dentists, reading current research and forming an opinion. I am sure the mail orders are great too: I have seen people kicked in the teeth and not lose teeth - but i have a root canal in my front tooth and a new tooth is $4000.00 and my 6 mil guard is 1/10 of price

thanks
 
7mm on a finished guard is overkill and way beyond the point of diminishing returns on thickness as equated to impact dispersion. We are the market leader and offer a occlusal guard option, normally referred to as a M.O.R.A. mandibular orthodontic repositioning appliance. The product name we use is Power Grip and is an upgrade on our pro model guard.

www.gladiatorguards.com
 
s incorrect
Hello and thank you for the replies.

I have read the recent peer reviewed studies from academic journals. Two studies recent studies recommended 7.5 mm thickness: 3 mil of polymer, 1.5 mil of acrylic and another 3 mil of polymer.

Either way, the mail order mouth guards are NOT the same and NEVER can be. Why? The molds they send you are not reverse molds. They only capture your teeth. these The molds will NOT capture the full shape of your teeth and upper roof of the mouth. I custom from the dentist sits up on the gums MUCH HIGHER where the root of the tooth sits. This is where maximal protection originates.

Of course, the mail orders are exceptional and will suffice for even pro MMA fighters. BUT they will never compare to the $300 monster i got from my doc. It is only 6 mil BUT the main difference is that he took a tooth mold immediately made a reverse mold and then shaped the guard to fit the entire set of teeth, gums, and upper roof. When you make molds at home they cannot capture the upper roof of the mouth as the mold needs to be taken and then another mold of the teeth using the first mold has to happen immediately in order to capture the exact shape of teeth and gums and roof. I am no dentist. But my dentist is..and he recommends only one lab in all of Canada. He does the molds in office and then sends them away. Trust me: an expensive mouth guard exists for a reason.

THANK you all!!

PS: what do I know? this is just what i have concluded after talking to several dentists, reading current research and forming an opinion. I am sure the mail orders are great too: I have seen people kicked in the teeth and not lose teeth - but i have a root canal in my front tooth and a new tooth is $4000.00 and my 6 mil guard is 1/10 of price

thanks

What you have posted is incorrect. Covering the roof of the mouth has 0 correlation with protection. The lingual aspect of the guard (roof of the mouth) has no relationship to the effectiveness of the guard. 6mm on a finished guard is well beyond the amount needed. What you don't understand is that starting material thickness has nothing to do with final guard thickness. Also your Dr. used an inferior material to take his impression, he used alginate, a material that has very little dimensional stability over time as it is a water based material. The companies that offer home impression kits use a much more stable and accurate materials, either a PVS or similar putty impression that allows for multiple models of the mouth to be made if need and is dimensionally stable for years. It is self serving for a dentist to bad mouth the at home molding kit industry, he feels it hurts his income. The only thing you are paying your dentist a premium for is the mold of your mouth. By my accounting that is around $200+ dollars. I also am not a dentist but have served the dental community for over 30 years and a lot of the articles you may have studied I had a part in researching and contributed to. The dental community comes to us for information as we are the only company that has a statistically significant data base of users of custom mouthguards. We deal in the 10's of thousand of user vs. a dental practice that may have a 100.

A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing, you don't understand anything you posted and have went to very biased source for your information.

Please post the sources of your research, most peer reviewed research available needs to be purchased.

the first studies you posted are both by the same authors so it is just one study published twice, Takeda, Ishigami, Mishima, Karasawa, kurkawa, kajima and Nakajima. We actually are the only company I am aware of that produce a guard using this science commercially.
 
@Gladiator Guards, which of your models do you recommend for maximum protection for boxing.

I have a Gladiator Pro with Powergrip, but need another one. What would you recommend? Does the second pair discount apply if I get a different model?

Regards,
Gus
 
Dont be a bonehead and short your self on one of the most crucial equipment when it comes to sparring.

Go to your dentist and have one custom built

Have had mine for close to 3 years. No issues nor wear and tear at all. Can breath and talk so easily forget I have one in...
 
@Gladiator Guards, which of your models do you recommend for maximum protection for boxing.

I have a Gladiator Pro with Powergrip, but need another one. What would you recommend? Does the second pair discount apply if I get a different model?

Regards,
Gus

same one again. You can order any guard and get the 50% discount off the base guard upgrades are not discounted.
 
7mm on a finished guard is overkill and way beyond the point of diminishing returns on thickness as equated to impact dispersion. We are the market leader and offer a occlusal guard option, normally referred to as a M.O.R.A. mandibular orthodontic repositioning appliance. The product name we use is Power Grip and is an upgrade on our pro model guard.

www.gladiatorguards.com

Hi Gladiator Guards,


Do you mind clearing up one thing for me. I've been reading around and it seems like all future orders placed offer you 50% off if you are using the same mold. The website says it is for the same model reorder.

Basically can I:

Order the gladiator pro model.
After a while, decide I want the elite, and order the elite for 50% off?

Thanks!
 
Everyone knows how much I support, and have supported, Gladiator. So, Gladiator. I actually recently moved, and still haven't had my stuff shipped/arrived yet, and unfortunately my most recent mouth guard is packed... BUT I found my original mouth guard from like 4-5 years ago in one of my gym bags and of course it felt absolutely perfect all these years later!
 
Hi Gladiator Guards,


Do you mind clearing up one thing for me. I've been reading around and it seems like all future orders placed offer you 50% off if you are using the same mold. The website says it is for the same model reorder.

Basically can I:

Order the gladiator pro model.
After a while, decide I want the elite, and order the elite for 50% off?

Thanks!

yes you may order a pro level or even a Jr. level guard first and get half off a more a expensive guard. We even let you order the pro level guard and get half off an elite on your same original order.

50% off is for any of the styles, but not the upgrades. So raptors, power grips and high performance lite or high performance are priced at the normal rate.
 
Dont be a bonehead and short your self on one of the most crucial equipment when it comes to sparring.

Go to your dentist and have one custom built

Have had mine for close to 3 years. No issues nor wear and tear at all. Can breath and talk so easily forget I have one in...

What Pope says rings true.

This question gets asked all the time. Goto your dentist, get one thats properly fitted and 100% custom.
 
yes you may order a pro level or even a Jr. level guard first and get half off a more a expensive guard. We even let you order the pro level guard and get half off an elite on your same original order.

50% off is for any of the styles, but not the upgrades. So raptors, power grips and high performance lite or high performance are priced at the normal rate.

Thanks! I'll be ordering one tonight!
 
Dentist, yes. If you can do this guy:

http://www.demartinodental.com/bengal-bite.html

Then you're in luck. Hybrid mouthpiece acts like a double in the back (molars) and like a one piece in the front, meaning you can close your jaw and bite down yet still have an air way to breathe through, and I'm a mouth breather. Things amazing and I've had it for three years. Apparently Lennox Lewis had gotten a piece or two from this man.
 
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Dentist, yes. If you can do this guy:

http://www.demartinodental.com/bengal-bite.html

Then you're in luck. Hybrid mouthpiece acts like a double in the back (molars) and like a one piece in the front, meaning you can close your jaw and bite down yet still have an air way to breathe through, and I'm a mouth breather. Things amazing and I've had it for three years. Apparently Lennox Lewis had gotten a piece or two from this man.

the guard show on the website is a vacuum formed mouthguard. Vacuum formed mouthguards are vastly inferior to what we produce as well as a number of other companies, a heat and pressure formed mouthguard. A little time on the internet will back this statement up several are published in peer reviewed dental journals.
 
the guard show on the website is a vacuum formed mouthguard. Vacuum formed mouthguards are vastly inferior to what we produce as well as a number of other companies, a heat and pressure formed mouthguard. A little time on the internet will back this statement up several are published in peer reviewed dental journals.

Roasted! But seriously, science.
 
Gladiator, since when has the roof of the mouth been known as lingual? Anyone worth their salt knows it is palatal, correct?

Alginates not dimensionally stable? 1980's maybe, 2010's no way. If they are stored correctly, some alginates can last up to 5 days before pouring. How do I know this? I make chrome frames on hydrogum 5 (type of alginate). Need much higher accuracy for crco than a mouthguard. Sorry to kick you while you're down (though you've got lingual protection), but I'd rather have a dentist take an impression of my teeth over a DIY kit sent to me along with a link to you tube video to guide me. I know of many dental professionals that have retaken an impression (myself included) because the first didn't cut it. Yeah, why not get a complete novice to do one of the most important steps in mouthguard construction.
Sounds too much like self-indulgent propaganda regurgitated via Dr Google.

Pope Leo is right, one of the most important pieces of equipment needed in contact sports probably shouldn't be left to someone you cannot meet in person and discuss your needs with.

Finally Gladiator Guards, you deal with 10's of 1000's of customers, I have only about 200 but have made over 800 guards because my customers know it is me who personally makes it, positive pressure and 3 layers, shaped by hand (like a good surfboard) for a perfect fit.
 
7mm on a finished guard is overkill and way beyond the point of diminishing returns on thickness as equated to impact dispersion. We are the market leader and offer a occlusal guard option, normally referred to as a M.O.R.A. mandibular orthodontic repositioning appliance. The product name we use is Power Grip and is an upgrade on our pro model guard.

www.gladiatorguards.com
WOW! Baffle 'em with bulls##t! Market leader in spin perhaps. M.O.R.A is a device commonly used to treat sleep apnea, for those not in the know, mouthguards aren't usually for this.

Here are a couple of other crackers from your site,
  • Free-flow System enhances performance through increased oxygen flow.
  • Ability to adjust lower jaw for better body alignment to improve performance
WTF!! can you explain these points and how your product achieves this? Or can I copy n paste to my site also.
 
Gladiator, since when has the roof of the mouth been known as lingual? Anyone worth their salt knows it is palatal, correct?

Alginates not dimensionally stable? 1980's maybe, 2010's no way. If they are stored correctly, some alginates can last up to 5 days before pouring. How do I know this? I make chrome frames on hydrogum 5 (type of alginate). Need much higher accuracy for crco than a mouthguard. Sorry to kick you while you're down (though you've got lingual protection), but I'd rather have a dentist take an impression of my teeth over a DIY kit sent to me along with a link to you tube video to guide me. I know of many dental professionals that have retaken an impression (myself included) because the first didn't cut it. Yeah, why not get a complete novice to do one of the most important steps in mouthguard construction.
Sounds too much like self-indulgent propaganda regurgitated via Dr Google.

Pope Leo is right, one of the most important pieces of equipment needed in contact sports probably shouldn't be left to someone you cannot meet in person and discuss your needs with.

Finally Gladiator Guards, you deal with 10's of 1000's of customers, I have only about 200 but have made over 800 guards because my customers know it is me who personally makes it, positive pressure and 3 layers, shaped by hand (like a good surfboard) for a perfect fit.

I like this guy! Read what it says guys for those really seeking a high quality mouth guard. This is why i always say goto a dentist or have a dentist do the mouth guard for you. we have zero idea and fhe dentist is the expert.
 
WOW! Baffle 'em with bulls##t! Market leader in spin perhaps. M.O.R.A is a device commonly used to treat sleep apnea, for those not in the know, mouthguards aren't usually for this.

Here are a couple of other crackers from your site,
  • Free-flow System enhances performance through increased oxygen flow.
  • Ability to adjust lower jaw for better body alignment to improve performance
WTF!! can you explain these points and how your product achieves this? Or can I copy n paste to my site also.

buy one, I'm a published dental professional with over 30 years experience. You may want to research the Maher mouthguard and papers written by Stephen Smith on Mora application in mouthguards. You also sound like you have a thimble full of knowledge. Do your own research I'm not here to educate my competition. you may also want to check out the patents I hold on mouthguard design as well . I am not about to shorten the learning curve for you. The statement I made earlier had more to do with the OP's comment I'm not about to write a three paragraph post about the lingual termination point of a mouthguard and explain the difference between the palatal surface of the mouth and the lingual surface of the teeth. I feel no need to teach lay people proper dental terminology it is not need for their understanding of how things work.

So far as the dimensional stability of alginate vs PVS impressions, your way off base. how many practices to you have taking alginates for a crown prep. They don't,... know why, the dimensional stability is not there, nor is the accuracy.

stick to making dentures and crome colbalt casting, or do more research before spouting off. Buying a mouthguard company and having a denture background does not make you an expert on mouthguards.
 
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WOW! Baffle 'em with bulls##t! Market leader in spin perhaps. M.O.R.A is a device commonly used to treat sleep apnea, for those not in the know, mouthguards aren't usually for this.


You have pissed me off enough that I have felt the need to respond again to show how little you know about your own industry. Pure power mouthguards PPM, Armourbite an Under Armour product, bitetech, Maher, and PEPguard as well as others, are all mouthguard companies that their entire marketing and product lines are based solely on the use of MORA designed mouthguards. These guards are all based on articles published by Dr. Stephen Smith a renowned sleep specialist in dentistry. I have a working relationship with Dr. Smith. So…… so much for those in the know.


"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing' Alexander Pope
 
I like this guy! Read what it says guys for those really seeking a high quality mouth guard. This is why i always say goto a dentist or have a dentist do the mouth guard for you. we have zero idea and fhe dentist is the expert.
Ok here we have another uneducated opinion with possibly ulterior motives. Make me free product so I can review it.

My answer to you

In the United States, there is no fellowship or residency program for sports dentistry as there is for sports medicine . Some dental schools include only limited coverage of sports dentistry in their programs.

The Academy of Sports Dentistry — which is recognized by the American Dental Association — is the most reputable professional dental association that provides continuing sports dentistry education and training to dentists. The Academy also provides dentists with guidance about what is appropriate regarding mouth guards and injury protection, as well as information from reputable sources about what is proven, researched and recommended.

The Academy of Sports Dentistry has 600 total member not all are dentist. The majority of dentist have 0 formal training about mouthguards. We were a member until last year. So there are 600 dentist in the USA who have sports dentistry, mouthguard, knowledge. The funny thing is they come to us for information we are the research, and reputable source.
 
Ok here we have another uneducated opinion with possibly ulterior motives. Make me free product so I can review it.

My answer to you

In the United States, there is no fellowship or residency program for sports dentistry as there is for sports medicine . Some dental schools include only limited coverage of sports dentistry in their programs.

The Academy of Sports Dentistry — which is recognized by the American Dental Association — is the most reputable professional dental association that provides continuing sports dentistry education and training to dentists. The Academy also provides dentists with guidance about what is appropriate regarding mouth guards and injury protection, as well as information from reputable sources about what is proven, researched and recommended.

The Academy of Sports Dentistry has 600 total member not all are dentist. The majority of dentist have 0 formal training about mouthguards. We were a member until last year. So there are 600 dentist in the USA who have sports dentistry, mouthguard, knowledge. The funny thing is they come to us for information we are the research, and reputable source.

Uh when have i ever approached you about getting a free mouth guard from you? You come here post a few times, and think that im trying to get free stuff from you?

No i actually have a mouth guard from my dentist which i have posted about several times. Ive also told members to stay away from the boil and bites(and before tou get bent out of shape im not referring to your product as a boil and bite)that its better to goto a dentist. If anyone has the uneducated opinion its you. Not once did i put down your product or mention you in name. But you are eager to discredit me or my opinion when you know nothing about me. Im not here trying to sell my product or attempting to belittle people on sherdog.

So get off your high horse, and quit trying to insist or insinuate that im trying to get a free product from you just to review it. It simply isnt true folks.
 
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