At Simon Says Smile, a mouthguard should protect the bite without fighting the airway. Our custom athletic guards in Chamblee, GA are built to shield teeth and jaw while letting athletes breathe freely.
A single hit to the mouth during a game can undo years of careful dental work in an instant. For young athletes who play contact sports, the risk of a chipped tooth, a knocked-out tooth, or a soft-tissue injury is a real part of competition, and it is one of the most preventable. A properly made mouthguard absorbs and spreads the force of impact, protecting not just the teeth but the lips, cheeks, and jaw as well. The difference between a generic store-bought guard and one built specifically for your child’s mouth is significant, and it often comes down to fit.
At Simon Says Smile Orthodontics, we care about protecting the smiles we help create. Dr. Hazie Simon built this Chamblee practice around personalized, attentive care for every patient, and that same philosophy shapes how we approach our full range of services. For active kids and teens across the greater Atlanta area, a custom athletic mouthguard is a simple, durable way to keep their teeth safe season after season.
Not all mouthguards offer the same level of protection, and the way a guard fits has a direct effect on how well it works. The American Dental Association recommends a properly fitted mouthguard to reduce the incidence and severity of sports-related dental injuries, noting that a guard needs enough retention to stay securely in place and shield the teeth at greatest risk. A loose or bulky guard can shift during play, interfere with breathing, or simply get left at home because it feels uncomfortable.
A custom guard solves these problems by design. Because it is made from a precise model of the mouth, it fits snugly, stays put, and allows an athlete to breathe and speak more easily than a boil-and-bite alternative. That comfort matters because the best mouthguard is the one a young athlete will actually wear. When protection feels natural rather than intrusive, it becomes part of the routine instead of an afterthought.
Making a guard that fits well starts with capturing the unique shape of each patient’s teeth and bite. We take an impression or digital scan of the mouth, then use it to fabricate a guard tailored to that exact anatomy. The result is a protective layer that cushions the teeth and helps distribute the energy of a blow across a wider surface rather than concentrating it on a single point.
The fit also accounts for comfort and function, which is what sets a professional guard apart. Athletes who wear orthodontic appliances have an added reason to protect their mouths, since hardware can increase the risk of soft-tissue cuts during impact. Patients in active treatment with traditional braces often benefit from guards designed with that hardware in mind, and we factor those needs into the design from the start.
A mouthguard is one piece of a larger commitment to keeping teeth healthy and aligned over time. Whether a patient is straightening their smile, finishing treatment, or simply staying active, protecting that investment is part of good long-term care. Athletes pursuing treatment with clear aligner therapy can keep playing the sports they love while we help guard the progress they have made.
That same care continues even after the active phase of treatment ends. Once teeth reach their final position, holding them there becomes the priority, which is why we also fit patients with custom retainers to maintain results. A mouthguard and a retainer serve different purposes, but both reflect the same idea: a healthy smile deserves to be protected for the long haul, on and off the field.
A custom athletic mouthguard is a small step that can prevent a painful, costly injury and give parents peace of mind every time their child takes the field. At Simon Says Smile Orthodontics, we pair that protection with the kind of warm, individualized attention that families across Chamblee and the greater Atlanta area have come to count on. We take the time to get the fit right, because comfort and reliable protection go hand in hand.
Led by Dr. Hazie Simon, a U.S. Navy veteran and the author of the children’s book Simon Says Smile, our practice brings a spirit of service and genuine care to every patient who walks through our doors. If your young athlete is gearing up for a new season, we would love to help keep their smile safe, so we invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation with our team today.
At Simon Says Smile, Where every smile is a win!
Reach out to us today to book your appointment. Our team looks forward to welcoming you and guiding you every step of the way toward a smile you’ll feel confident sharing.
Mon-Thu: 7:30AM – 5:00PM
Fri: 8:00AM – 1:00PM
Sat-Sun: Closed
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