Every September, the same pattern plays out in dental clinics across Perth’s southern suburbs. Finals arrive, the footy gets faster and more physical, and within a fortnight the emergency book fills with chipped front teeth, split lips and the occasional tooth in a container of milk. Most of those injuries share one detail: the player was wearing no mouthguard at all, or a loose chemist one that popped out at the worst possible moment.
As the practice behind the custom mouthguards Leeming footy families wear each winter, and as a proud sponsor of the Bull Creek Leeming Junior Football Club, we see both sides of this story: the guards we fit in autumn, and the injuries we repair in spring for the players who skipped them. This guide explains what actually separates a custom mouthguard from the one hanging at the chemist, what an unprotected knock really costs, and how to get your family sorted before the next bounce.
Need a guard before the weekend? Book your appointment today or call 08 9332 3608.
The Short Answer
Are custom mouthguards really better than boil-and-bite ones? Yes, and not by a small margin. A custom guard is made on an exact model of your teeth, so it grips securely, spreads impact across the whole arch, and stays in place through a tackle, a fall or a stray elbow. The Australian Dental Association’s public campaign at teeth.org.au puts it simply: play it safe, wear a mouthguard, and make it a custom-fitted one. Off-the-shelf guards are better than nothing, but that is the entire compliment they have earned.
What One Unprotected Knock Actually Costs
The economics here are brutal, and worth spelling out. A custom mouthguard costs a few hundred dollars at most, often less after a health fund rebate. Now compare the injuries it prevents:
- A chipped or fractured front tooth needs bonding at best, a crown or root canal at worst, and cosmetic repairs on a front tooth are redone every decade or so for life. Our chipped tooth page covers the repair options.
- A knocked-out adult tooth is a genuine dental emergency with a countdown attached: reimplantation works best within the first hour. Even when it succeeds, that tooth often needs root canal treatment and lifelong monitoring, and when it fails, you are into implant territory.
- Jaw and soft tissue injuries from an unprotected impact can mean cut lips and cheeks, damaged jaw joints and weeks of a very sore recovery.
One quick first-aid note while we are here, because finals season makes it relevant: if a tooth does get knocked out, hold it by the crown rather than the root, keep it moist in milk or inside the cheek, and get to a dentist within the hour. Do not scrub it, and do not wrap it in a tissue. Fast, correct handling is often the difference between saving the tooth and replacing it.
One prevented injury pays for a decade of mouthguards. That is the whole argument, and it is why Healthdirect lists mouthguards among the simplest, highest-value protective steps in Australian sport.
Boil-and-Bite vs Custom: Where the Difference Shows
- Fit and retention. A boil-and-bite guard holds a rough impression made in your kitchen. It loosens as it cools, drifts during play, and players end up clenching to hold it in place. A custom guard clicks onto the teeth and stays put without any effort.
- Protection where it matters. Custom guards are built with controlled, even thickness over the front teeth and biting surfaces, so impact spreads instead of concentrating. Chemist guards thin out unpredictably where you bite into them, which is often exactly where the next knock lands.
- Breathing, speech, and actually wearing it. The most common reason young players abandon a mouthguard is that it feels like a mouthful of rubber. A slim custom guard lets kids talk to teammates and breathe hard in the last quarter, which means it stays in the mouth instead of the sock.
- Lifespan. Looked after properly, an adult custom guard lasts several seasons. We check its fit and condition at each dental check-up; no extra visit needed.
Kids, Growing Mouths and Club Colours
Parents often ask when a child should start wearing a mouthguard. The practical answer: from the first season of any sport with contact or collision risk, which for most local kids means their first year of footy, and the same logic applies to hockey, basketball and netball. Children’s guards need a closer eye than adult ones because growing jaws and arriving adult teeth change the fit; we review kids’ guards at their regular children’s dentistry visits and remake them when growth demands it. And yes, custom guards come in club colours. In our experience, a guard in team colours gets worn with pride rather than argued about, which makes the colour choice a genuine safety feature.
Our Skin in the Game: The Bull Creek Leeming JFC
This topic is not theoretical for us. Bull Creek Dental sponsors the Bull Creek Leeming Junior Football Club; we treat its players and their families, and we patch up the occasional finals-day mishap. Supporting junior sport and then repairing preventable injuries from it would be a strange combination, which is exactly why we push custom mouthguards so hard every season. Prevention is the sponsorship that matters most.
Your Health Fund Probably Covers More Than You Think
Custom-fitted mouthguards sit in the preventive category of most extras policies, and many Australian funds pay a generous benefit towards them; on some covers, at preferred provider practices, the rebate covers the full fee. Chemist guards attract no rebate at all, which quietly closes most of the price gap between the two. Bring your fund details to the appointment: we can quote the item number on the spot, process the claim through HICAPS at reception, and tell you your exact out-of-pocket cost before we take a single impression.
Custom Mouthguards Leeming Families Can Count On
Getting fitted is quick. One short visit for a precise impression or digital scan of the teeth, a lab turnaround of about a week, and one brief fitting to confirm the guard seats perfectly and comfortably. Pick your colours, get care instructions (rinse after use, store it dry in its case, keep it out of hot cars), and you are match-ready. Leeming families are just minutes from the practice; we are open six days a week, including Saturday mornings before the game, and Thursday evening appointments suit training nights. The best time to get fitted is before the season; the second-best time is today, because finals footy does not wait for anyone’s dental schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are custom mouthguards better than boil-and-bite ones?
Yes, significantly. A custom guard is made on an exact model of your teeth, so it stays in place during play, spreads impact evenly and is slim enough to talk and breathe in. Boil-and-bite guards fit loosely, thin out unpredictably and are the guards we most often see fail during a knock.
How much does a custom mouthguard cost with health insurance?
Custom mouthguards usually sit in the preventive category of extras cover, and many funds pay a substantial benefit towards them; on some policies, the rebate covers the full fee at a preferred provider. We quote the exact item number before treatment so your fund can confirm your rebate, and HICAPS claims are processed on the spot.
What age should kids get a sports mouthguard?
From their first season of any contact or collision sport, footy included. Children’s guards are checked at regular dental visits and remade as jaws grow and adult teeth arrive, so the protection keeps pace with the player.
How long does a custom mouthguard last?
Adult guards typically last several seasons with good care. Kids’ guards depend on growth rather than wear and may need replacing more often. We inspect the fit at every check-up, so a failing guard gets caught before the season does.
Get Match-Ready With Us
Bull Creek Dental, 1/79 Wheatley Dr, Bull Creek WA 6149, Australia | Get Directions
Phone: 08 9332 3608 | Book an Appointment | Contact Us
Open six days a week, with Thursday evening appointments, complimentary on-site parking and on-the-spot HICAPS health fund claiming.
