Sports guards are mouth appliances worn by athletes on upper arch teeth in competitive and recreational sports in which impact, contact and collision can occur.  They can be designed and custom fitted to a patient based on the sport they will be playing.  They protect teeth from fracture, loss, or from being intruded back into the jaw.

The American Dental Association recommends wearing custom mouth guards for the following sports: acrobats, basketball, boxing, field hockey, football, gymnastics, handball, ice hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, roller hockey, rugby, shot putting, skateboarding, skiing, skydiving, soccer, squash, surfing, volleyball, water polo, weigh lifting and wrestling.  Other experts include baseball and softball infielders on that list. They further recommend the mouth guard to be worn during all practices and competition.