(608) 783-6384 [email protected] 1831 E. Main Street Onalaska, WI 54650
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Custom Athletic Mouth Guards in Wisconsin

— real protection for every sport

A knocked-out or broken tooth is one of the most common sports-related dental injuries—and one of the most preventable. At Onalaska Dental Smiles, we provide custom-fitted athletic mouth guards designed to stay securely in place while helping protect the teeth, lips, cheeks, and jaw during physical activity.

Same-Day Digital Fittings & Diagnostic Lab Work Configurations Available

Built specifically for your teeth — not a one-size-fits-all solution

Unlike commercial boil-and-bite devices, a professional guard is fabricated from a precise digital scan or physical model of your direct upper dentition. We leverage premium, multi-layered biocompatible materials that cushion impacts, distributing high-friction kinetic forces evenly across your entire bone architecture to protect against tooth loss and horizontal root fractures.

Because the internal margin tightly mirrors your unique gum line contour, the appliance locks in position automatically without requiring you to clench your jaw. This allows athletes to communicate commands clearly, breathe freely, and remain focused on their game.

Mouth Guard Appliance Facts

Fabrication Track: Precise dental impression → in-house or specialized lab formulation

Turnaround Time: Same-day processing or 1–2 week turn options
Standard Appliance Lifespan: 1–3 Years (Dependent on developmental age changes)
Candidacy Range: Any individual active in contact, collision, or outdoor fall sports
The Persuasion Argument

Why a $5 store-bought guard costs thousands over time

The primary objection is often “why not just buy one at the sporting goods store?” This feature matrix maps out the precise physiological differences.
Custom Mouth Guard

Professional

Precise structural fit

Stays completely locked in place even during massive high-impact play sequences.

Complete soft tissue coverage

Shields delicate lip margins, inner cheeks, and gingival structures completely.

Comfortable speech & breathing

Allows athletes to shout team communications easily and inhale maximum oxygen streams.

Accommodates ortho/appliances

Specially contoured to adapt safely over active braces, dental implants, or missing tooth spaces.

Store Bought Boil & Bite

Over the Counter

Loose, unstable fit

Regularly falls out or gets spit out mid-play, leaving teeth completely exposed.

Bulky, thinned-out edges

Subjecting materials to hot water thinning compromises critical thickness at high-impact corners.

Obstructed breathing lanes

Requires constant active clenching to hold in place, causing fast airway fatigue.

Rigid structural friction

Cannot adapt safely around orthodontic wires, which can cause severe lacerations during impact.

Broad Applicable Sports

Every athlete needs structured protection

Contact sports

Football, hockey, rugby, Wisconsin, wrestling, and mixed martial arts — where mouth protection is strictly required by league regulations.

Collision-risk sports

Basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, and gymnastics. Dental fractures are highly common here due to stray elbows or ball impacts.

Individual sports

Skateboarding, mountain biking, rock climbing, and inline skating. Uncontested, sudden contact with concrete can cause severe dental trauma without warning.

Orthodontic cases

Athletes with active braces require custom guards to protect both soft lip tissues and fragile brackets from blunt force impact damage.

Simple 3-Step Process

Demystifying the fitting appointment

01

Digital scan or impression

We take a fast, clean digital scan or traditional impression of your upper teeth. The process requires less than 5 minutes and introduces no gagging or discomfort.


02

Laboratory fabrication

Your model is formed with heat-hardened, multi-layered resin materials. We customize thickness settings to match your specific position and sport type.


03

Fit check & direct delivery

You return for a quick fit check. Dr. Luke Zortman verifies marginal bite stability, handles any micro-adjustments, and sends you home ready to compete safely.


Real Patient Feedback

Google reviews

Trusted by local families

4.9 ★★★★★ Google
Felicia Millard
Felicia Millard4 weeks ago
★★★★★

Very nice young lady who was the assistant, very nice young man who was the…

Patricia Maestas
Patricia Maestas2 months ago
★★★★★

Everyone is very friendly. They take care of their patience. Doing a great job.

Melanie Young
Melanie Young3 months ago
★★★★★

Very friendly staff, & a very nice facility. Got in within 5 mins of my…

Michelle Narveson
Michelle Narveson3 months ago
★★★★★

Great place for my whole family. Wonderful staff, always on time, always able to get…

Bonnie Naber
Bonnie Naber3 months ago
★★★★★

Very refreshing experience! Both the procedure and the employees. I would rate it a 10.

Penny Stock
Penny Stock6 months ago
★★★★★

Truth be told if it wasn’t for the amazing care of Dr Payton and his…

nancy strelow
nancy strelow3 months ago
★★★★★

The staff and Dr are friendly, considerate and eager to do what it takes for…

Jamie D
Jamie D3 months ago
★★★★★

Very nice staff, worked very nicely with my anxiety. I am glad I picked this…

Jennifer M
Jennifer M2 months ago
★★★★★

The whole staff is kind welcoming and attentive.I can tell when a professional person is…

Sherry
Sherry3 months ago
★★★★★

I haven’t been to a dentist in years. Walking in the door for my first…

Judy Schnick
Judy Schnick4 months ago
★★★★★

Had to have a crown replaced. Staff did everything to make me comfortable and did…

Flip Phone
Flip Phone6 months ago
★★★★★

Very pleasant, friendly and knowledgeable staff willing to explain processes and procedures. Very calm environment…

Frequently Asked Mouth Guard Questions

A professional custom mouth guard typically ranges between $150 and $300, depending on thickness parameters and sport type complexity. Many PPO dental insurance options fund a portion of this under preventive codes. It remains a tiny fraction of the cost required to repair a knocked-out tooth structure.

Yes, absolutely. We fabricate specialized orthodontic mouth guards engineered to fit comfortably over brackets. They provide high impact defense while leaving space for teeth to shift safely into their planned alignments.

For adult athletes, a custom guard delivers durable defense for 1 to 3 years. For growing children and teens whose dental structures are shifting, replacements are required more frequently. We evaluate structural fit at every 6-month cleaning block.

The American Dental Association officially suggests mouth guard protection across 29 distinct sports activities. Non-contact sports like mountain biking, basketball, or gymnastics carry elevated risks for dental trauma from sudden drops and collision impact forces.

Clinical research indicates that a properly fitted, professional mouth guard can minimize concussion risks by absorbing and distributing violent impact forces before they reach the jaw joint and skull base. Loose, thin store-bought options fail to supply this distribution safety.

Related services

Night guards & bruxism

Protect your smile from nocturnal grinding wear with heavy-duty diagnostic appliances customized for sleep comfort.

Emergency dental care

If an unexpected sports injury occurs, our clinical desk provides swift same-day priority trauma tracking for immediate tooth preservation.

Orthodontics

We coordinate specialized guard tracks that protect teeth while allowing orthodontic wires to move teeth safely.

Open for Appointments

Schedule your visit with our friendly dental team today.