01
The sport and position
A junior netballer, a football player and a martial arts athlete may need different thickness and coverage discussions.
Fitted for the guard typeMouthguards - Geraldton
Custom mouthguards in Geraldton for sport and night-time grinding.
A good guard should fit your mouth, your sport, your bite and your stage of life. We make the appointment practical: check what you need, take the scan or impression, explain the cost, and show you how to look after it.
Custom-fittedSport and grindingHICAPS on site100 Chapman Rd, Geraldton
Custom fit with the reason made clear
Overview
The small appliance you actually need to wear.
Mouthguards are simple in theory. The useful part is getting the right guard for the right reason. A junior football mouthguard, an adult hockey guard and an occlusal splint for night-time grinding are not the same job.
For sport, the conversation is about fit, thickness, comfort, breathing, speech, colours, and whether growing teeth or orthodontic changes mean the guard needs review sooner. For grinding or clenching, the conversation starts with the bite, tooth wear, jaw muscles, restorations, sleep history, and whether a splint is appropriate or whether another referral makes more sense.
You do not need to diagnose that yourself. Bring the guard you already have if you own one, tell us when you notice the problem, and we will slow the decision down enough that the next step is clear.
Sport, grinding, growing teetheach one changes the guard.
The page splits the decision early so you can find your path quickly. The appointment still checks the details before anything is made.
01
Sport trackSport mouthguards
For AFL, rugby, hockey, basketball, martial arts, netball, soccer and other contact or collision-risk sport, the guard is fitted for retention, thickness and practical wear.
02
Grinding trackNight guards and splints
For grinding or clenching, your dentist checks tooth wear, bite forces, jaw comfort, restorations and sleep-related history before discussing an occlusal splint.
03
Family trackKids and teenagers
Children and teens may need mouthguards reviewed more often because teeth erupt, jaws grow, braces change fit, and sport seasons arrive quickly.
04
Restoration trackExisting dental work
Crowns, veneers, fillings and worn teeth can change the design conversation, especially when strong bite forces are part of the picture.
Made for real sport seasonsnot just the shelf.
Custom sports guards are made from your mouth, not from an average mouth. That usually means better retention, easier breathing and a guard your child or teammate is more likely to keep in.
02
Growing mouths
Children and teens can outgrow a guard. We check the fit and explain when a new one may be needed.
Fitted for the guard type03
Colour and lab options
Colour or team-colour requests can often be discussed once the clinical fit and guard type are clear.
Fitted for the guard type04
Braces and changes
Orthodontic treatment or erupting teeth can change fit. Bring that up early so the guard is planned around what is happening now.
Fitted for the guard typeGrinding needs a wider contextbefore a splint is made.
A night guard is not a cure-all. It is an appliance your dentist may recommend after checking wear, bite load, jaw joints, muscles, restorations and symptoms. If the concern sounds sleep-related, that belongs in a different conversation.
01
Assessment decides the splint designTooth wear and chips
Flat biting edges, small chips or repeated restoration wear can be signs your dentist investigates, not proof of one diagnosis.
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Assessment decides the splint designJaw and muscle load
Morning tightness, clenching awareness or muscle tenderness can be discussed alongside the clinical bite check.
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Assessment decides the splint designRestoration protection
If you have crowns, veneers or large fillings, an occlusal splint may be discussed to help manage bite forces on those surfaces.
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Assessment decides the splint designReferral when needed
Complex jaw-joint symptoms, airway concerns or sleep apnoea questions may need a different practitioner or medical pathway.
If snoring, breathing pauses or sleep apnoea is part of the concern, tell us. A standard night guard is not sleep-apnoea treatment.
A short visit with purposethen a guard made for you.
The sequence is deliberately practical. We confirm the reason, capture the shape of your mouth, and explain the next step before the guard is made.
Step 01
Tell us the sport, season, age, braces status, symptoms, existing guard history or grinding concern.
Your visit - Step 01
Check the reason
Tell us the sport, season, age, braces status, symptoms, existing guard history or grinding concern.
Your dentist checks the mouth, bite and relevant history. For night splints, that may include tooth wear, jaw muscles and existing restorations.
Step 02
We capture the shape needed for the lab. The exact method depends on the case and clinic workflow.
Your visit - Step 02
Scan or impression
We capture the shape needed for the lab. The exact method depends on the case and clinic workflow.
Digital scans or impressions may be used. The important part is that the lab receives the right record for the appliance being made.
Step 03
The guard is made to the planned thickness, type and colour details where those options are suitable.
Your visit - Step 03
Lab-made guard
The guard is made to the planned thickness, type and colour details where those options are suitable.
Lab timing depends on appliance type, lab workflow, seasonal demand and whether colour options are suitable. We will give you the current estimate before the guard is ordered.
Step 04
At collection, the fit is checked and you are shown how to clean, store and review the guard.
Your visit - Step 04
Fit and care check
At collection, the fit is checked and you are shown how to clean, store and review the guard.
Bring it back if it feels loose, rubs, becomes damaged, or no longer matches your teeth after orthodontic or growth changes.
Custom versus over-the-counter
Fit is the real difference and whether it stays in.
Over-the-counter guards can be useful in a pinch, but they are not made from your teeth. A custom guard is planned around retention, thickness, comfort, breathing and the reason you need it.
Know the cost before saying yesbefore the guard is made.
Mouthguard and splint costs vary by appliance type, lab work, item code and health-fund policy. We can process HICAPS on site and explain the estimate before you decide.
What can change the estimate
Written estimateYou should know the fee and likely claiming pathway before a custom appliance is ordered.
QuoteExtras coverMany funds treat mouthguards and occlusal splints under different item codes and annual limits. Your fund confirms the benefit.
FundChildren and teenagersGrowing mouths may need more frequent fit checks, especially around new teeth, braces, or a new sports season.
KidsWritten estimatesWe explain the likely fee, health fund pathway, and written estimate before a custom appliance is ordered.
CostHealth fund benefits, item codes, waiting periods, and annual limits vary. The clinic can help you understand the estimate, but your fund confirms the final details.
Custom sports mouthguards
Made from your mouth and adjusted to the sport, age, fit and practical wearing needs.
Boil-and-bite guards
Moulded at home and often less precise. If it falls out or feels bulky, it may not be worn consistently.
Occlusal splints
Designed after a dental assessment for grinding or clenching-related tooth wear and bite load.
Health funds we accept
HICAPS processed on-site for major Australian health funds. Benefits depend on your policy, annual limits and item codes.
Keep it clean and usefuland check the fit.
A custom guard still needs care. Cleaning, storage and review keep it useful and reduce the chance it becomes something that lives in the bottom of a sports bag.
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Care noteRinse and brush gently
Use cool water and a soft brush after wear. Avoid hot water because heat can distort the material.
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Care noteStore it dry
Keep it in the ventilated case once clean. Bags, towels and glove boxes are where guards get lost or damaged.
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Care noteBring it to check-ups
A guard can be checked at your routine dental visit, especially if it feels loose, tight, sharp, or uneven.
04
Care noteReplace when it changes
Growth, orthodontics, heavy wear, cracks, odour, distortion or a big impact can all mean it is time to reassess.
Frequently askedabout mouthguards.
Custom mouthguards and boil-and-bite guards are trying to solve the same problem in very different ways. A boil-and-bite guard starts as a standard shape and is softened at home. A custom sports mouthguard starts with a scan or impression of your teeth, then a lab makes the guard for your mouth.
The practical difference is usually fit. A guard that stays in place is easier to wear, easier to breathe around, and less likely to be chewed or spat out halfway through training. The Australian Dental Association and Sports Medicine Australia both discuss custom-fitted mouthguards as the preferred option for many contact and collision sports because fit and retention matter.
That does not mean a custom guard is a force field. It is designed to help reduce the risk of dental injury during sport. It cannot remove every risk, and the right thickness or design depends on the sport, your mouth, your age and whether orthodontic changes are happening.
If you already own a guard, bring it to your Geraldton appointment. We can check whether it still fits and talk through whether a new custom guard makes sense before the season starts.
Start with the fit
Bring the question in early we will make it practical.
Whether the guard is for Saturday sport or night-time grinding, the first step is a short assessment and a clear explanation of what is appropriate for your mouth.