Custom Sports Mouthguards for Young Athletes in Denver
Professionally fitted by Dr. Jina Rasouli at Kids Smiles Dentistry in South Denver. Superior protection that mail-in kits and boil-and-bite guards simply can’t match — because your child’s smile is worth it.
Sports we fit for: Boxing • Hockey • Football • Martial Arts • Basketball • Soccer • Lacrosse • Skateboarding
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Youth Sports Dental Injuries: The Numbers
- 3 Million +
- Teeth knocked out yearly in youth sports
- 60x
- Higher injury risk without a mouthguard
- 200k+
- Injuries prevented by mouthguards yearly
- $20k
- Lifetime cost of one knocked-out tooth
Sources: American Dental Association, National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, Academy of General Dentistry
Why a Dentist-Made Mouthguard Is the Best Choice for Your Child
Regular dental cleanings and check-ups are essential for your child’s oral health. Our gentle hygienists make teeth cleaning fun and comfortable for kids of all ages. We recommend cleanings every 6 months to prevent cavities and catch problems early. Each visit includes a thorough exam by Dr. Jina Rasouli, digital X-rays when needed, and a prize from our treasure box. Most insurance plans, including Medicaid, cover cleanings 100%.
Dental Sealants for Kids
The American Dental Association recommends custom-fitted mouthguards for any sport with risk of dental injury. Here’s what sets a professional mouthguard from Kids Smiles Dentistry apart from mail-in impression kits and store-bought alternatives.
Precision Fit from a Professional Impression
Dr. Rasouli takes a detailed mold of your child’s teeth right here in our Denver office, ensuring the mouthguard perfectly conforms to every tooth, gap, and contour. There’s no guesswork and no risk of at-home impression errors that plague mail-in kits.
Superior Impact Protection
Custom mouthguards evenly distribute bite forces and cushion the jaw on impact. They’re fabricated from medical-grade thermoplastic that absorbs shock far more effectively than the thin retail plastic found in store-bought guards or the variable materials used by mail-in companies.
Easier Breathing and Speaking During Play
Because the fit is exact, custom mouthguards are thinner and more streamlined than bulky alternatives. Your child can breathe, communicate with teammates, and drink water without removing the guard mid-game — which means they actually keep it in.
Accommodates Braces and Growing Mouths
Children’s jaws are still developing. Dr. Rasouli accounts for orthodontic appliances, mixed dentition, and emerging permanent teeth — factors that a mail-in company simply cannot evaluate from a self-taken home impression.
Durable, Long-Lasting Materials
Professional mouthguards are built from high-quality, lab-grade materials that maintain their shape and protective properties season after season. Store-bought and mail-in guards warp, thin out, and need frequent replacement.
Durable, Long-Lasting Materials
Professional mouthguards are built from high-quality, lab-grade materials that maintain their shape and protective properties season after season. Store-bought and mail-in guards warp, thin out, and need frequent replacement.
Built-In Dental Oversight
When your child’s mouthguard is made by their dentist, Dr. Rasouli can identify early signs of grinding, misalignment, or emerging dental issues during the fitting appointment — a preventive care opportunity that mail-in kits completely miss.
Easier Breathing and Speaking During Play
Because the fit is exact, custom mouthguards are thinner and more streamlined than bulky alternatives. Your child can breathe, communicate with teammates, and drink water without removing the guard mid-game — which means they actually keep it in.
Custom Dental Mouthguard vs. Mail-In Impression Kit vs. Store-Bought
Not all mouthguards are created equal. Here’s how a dentist-fitted mouthguard from Kids Smiles Dentistry compares to the alternatives Denver parents often consider.
Why Mail-In Impression Mouthguards Fall Short for Kids
Mail-in mouthguard companies market convenience, but for children and teens, the tradeoffs create real risk. Here’s what Denver parents should know before ordering an at-home impression kit.
DIY Impressions Are Error-Prone
Taking a proper dental impression requires professional training and equipment. When parents or kids attempt it at home, the mold frequently captures air bubbles, distorted bites, or incomplete tooth coverage — resulting in a mouthguard that doesn’t actually protect where it matters.
No Dental Evaluation Included
Children’s mouths are constantly changing. A mail-in company has no way to know if your child has loose baby teeth, emerging permanent teeth, untreated cavities, or bite issues that could compromise the guard’s fit and function.
Weeks of Wait Time
By the time you order a kit, take the impression, mail it back, and receive the finished guard, the season may already be underway. If the fit is wrong, the return-and-redo cycle can cost you even more time.
No In-Person Adjustments
If the guard pinches, gaps, or doesn’t sit right, there’s no dentist available to make a quick chairside adjustment. You’re stuck restarting the entire process or settling for a subpar fit.
Inconsistent Material Quality
Mail-in companies vary widely in the materials and manufacturing standards they use. Without dental oversight, there’s no way to verify the thickness, grade, or protective capability of the guard before your child takes the field.
False Sense of Security
A poorly fitting mouthguard can shift on impact, providing little real protection when it matters most. Worse, a loose guard can interfere with breathing during high-intensity play — exactly when your child needs full airflow.
Custom Mouthguards for Every Sport Your Child Plays in Denver
Whether your young athlete is training at a Denver boxing gym, skating at a South Denver hockey rink, or playing on a local football team — we build a mouthguard specific to their sport’s impact profile.
Boxing and Kickboxing
Direct facial impact makes a custom mouthguard non-negotiable for young boxers. We create thicker, high-impact guards designed for repeated strikes to the jaw and face. For kids training at boxing gyms across Denver, a professional-grade mouthguard is the most important piece of protective equipment after gloves and headgear.
Ice Hockey and Roller Hockey
Pucks, sticks, boards, and body checks make hockey one of the highest-risk sports for dental injury in youth athletics. A custom guard stays firmly in place through every shift on the ice, unlike store-bought alternatives that loosen and shift when kids need protection most.
Football
Mouthguards are required at every level of organized football, but the quality of the guard matters enormously. A dentist-fitted mouthguard significantly outperforms the generic boil-and-bite guards that most youth leagues distribute at the start of the season.
Lacrosse and Field Hockey
Fast-moving balls and sticks create real dental risk in both lacrosse and field hockey. Custom guards provide full coverage and shock absorption without the bulk that makes kids want to remove them during play.
Martial Arts and Wrestling
From taekwondo to jiu-jitsu, combat sports demand mouthguards that stay locked in during grappling, strikes, and ground work. A custom fit ensures the guard won’t dislodge during rolls or submissions.
Basketball and Soccer
Though not always required by leagues, basketball and soccer account for a surprisingly high number of youth dental injuries from elbows, player collisions, and ball impacts. The ADA recommends mouthguards for both sports.
Skateboarding and BMX
Falls are inevitable for young skaters and riders. A mouthguard can be the difference between a scary moment and a permanent tooth loss for kids at Denver’s skate parks and bike trails.
Baseball and Softball
Research shows that over 87% of dental injuries in baseball result from ball or bat contact. The American Dental Association recommends mouthguards for all youth baseball and softball players.
How to Get Your Child’s Custom Mouthguard at Kids Smiles Dentistry
One visit. Professional results. No mail-in kit frustration.
Step 1: Schedule a Fitting
Call (303) 955-6688 or book online. We offer weekday and Saturday appointments that work around your family’s schedule and your child’s sports season.
Step 2: Professional Impression
Dr. Rasouli takes a precise mold of your child’s teeth using professional-grade dental putty and evaluates their bite, jaw alignment, and any orthodontic considerations.
Step 3: Lab Fabrication
Your child’s mouthguard is custom-fabricated using medical-grade thermoplastic materials, with thickness and coverage tailored to their specific sport’s impact profile.
Step 4: Perfect Fit Check
We verify the fit in-office and make any needed chairside adjustments, so your child hits the field, rink, or ring with a mouthguard that’s comfortable and fully protective.
Protect Your Child’s Smile This Season
Don’t wait for a dental emergency. Schedule a custom mouthguard fitting at Kids Smiles Dentistry in Denver — one visit is all it takes.
[Schedule a Mouthguard Fitting]
Sports Mouthguard FAQ for Denver Parents
Why is a custom dental mouthguard better than a mail-in impression mouthguard?
A custom dental mouthguard is made from a professional impression taken in-office by a licensed dentist who can verify accuracy, check your child’s bite, and account for orthodontic appliances. Mail-in kits rely on self-taken impressions at home, which are prone to errors that result in poor fit and reduced protection. A dentist-fitted mouthguard provides superior impact absorption, better comfort, and easier breathing during sports.
What sports require a mouthguard for kids?
The American Dental Association recommends mouthguards for any sport with risk of contact or impact. Mouthguards are required in football, ice hockey, lacrosse, and field hockey at the high school level. They are also strongly recommended for boxing, basketball, soccer, wrestling, martial arts, skateboarding, gymnastics, and baseball/softball.
At what age should my child start wearing a sports mouthguard?
Children should begin wearing a mouthguard as soon as they participate in any sport or physical activity with risk of dental injury. Custom mouthguards can be made for children as young as 6 or 7 years old, and should be updated periodically as your child’s teeth and jaw continue to grow.
Can kids with braces wear a custom sports mouthguard?
Absolutely, and it’s especially important. Dr. Rasouli designs custom mouthguards that accommodate brackets and wires, protecting both the orthodontic appliance and the soft tissues of the mouth from impact injuries. Boil-and-bite guards are not recommended for children with braces because they can damage brackets or fail to provide adequate coverage.
How long does a custom sports mouthguard last?
With proper care, a custom mouthguard can last several sports seasons. However, children and teens may need replacements more frequently as their teeth and jaw develop. We recommend bringing the mouthguard to regular dental checkups so Dr. Rasouli can inspect it for wear and ensure it still fits correctly.
Does insurance cover custom sports mouthguards?
Coverage varies by plan. Some dental insurance plans cover part or all of the cost of a custom mouthguard, especially for children. We’re happy to verify your benefits before your appointment. Kids Smiles Dentistry accepts Medicaid, CHP+, and most PPO insurance plans.
Do you serve families outside of South Denver?
Yes! While our office is located at 1835 S Federal Blvd in Denver’s Westwood-Mar Lee area (80219), we welcome families from across Denver, Lakewood, Englewood, Sheridan, and surrounding communities. We’re conveniently located just off US-6 and Federal Blvd with free parking right next to our clinic.
Visit Kids Smiles Dentistry:
1835 S Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219
Located on Federal Blvd near W. Jewell Ave — look for our large blue Kids Smiles sign. Free parking right next to the clinic. Handicap accessible.
Serving Denver families in Westwood, Mar Lee, Federal Blvd, and surrounding neighborhoods with compassionate kids dental care.
Why Denver Parents Trust Kids Smiles:
- 5-Star Google Reviews
- Dr. Jina Rasouli — 15+ Years Experience, Board-Certified DDS
- American Dental Association Member
- Colorado Dental Association Member
- Metro Denver Dental Society Member
- Medicaid & CHP+ Accepted
- Saturday Appointments Available
- Se Habla Español