01
You play a contact sport
Football, hockey, basketball, martial arts, wrestling. One impact chips a tooth or cuts a lip.
Custom Mouth Guards in Katy, TX
Custom Mouth Guards
Moulded to your own teeth, so it stays put and you actually wear it. For sport, for grinding, and for jaws that click.
Is this you
Is this the treatment you need?
Most patients do not know they need one until something is already worn down. These are the practice’s own five.
02
You wake with a headache
Or a sore jaw. Both are early signs of grinding you are not aware of.
03
You grind or clench at night
Flattened teeth, receding gums, loose fillings and unexplained sensitivity are the evidence.
05
You have been diagnosed with TMJ
Stiffness, clicking or popping when chewing, or a jaw that will not fully open. See TMJ and TMD.
Not only contactSport, either way
Skateboarding, cycling and gymnastics are not contact sports and still put your front teeth on the ground.
The Treatment
What it is, and what it involves.
What is a custom mouth guard?
An appliance moulded to the exact shape of your teeth and gums, rather than boiled into an approximation of them. Thinner, more secure, and — the part that matters — comfortable enough that you keep wearing it.
In the practice’s words
A custom mouth guard from Dr. Dave Cho is a small investment in long-term oral health. Unlike generic options from sporting goods stores or pharmacies, our custom-fit guards offer comfort, durability, and maximum protection.
Precision fit: molds perfectly to your teeth for security and ease of use. Comfortable wear: no bulkiness or shifting during use. Improved performance: athletes breathe easier and grind less with a better fit. Durability: constructed from top-quality materials that outlast store-bought alternatives.
Three kinds, and what each one is for
- SportsImpact injuries to teeth and jaw in contact sport. It also absorbs shock from a blow to the jaw, and is thin enough to breathe and talk through.
- NightBruxism — grinding in your sleep. It cushions the teeth and takes the pressure off the clench.
- TMJRepositions the jaw slightly to relieve pressure on the temporomandibular joints, reducing pain, stiffness and the clicking.
Why This One
What it does for you.
The practice’s own six. The fifth is the one that decides whether any of the others happen.
It absorbs the hit
A flexible shield that disperses impact, against chipped teeth, cut lips and jaw fractures.
Enamel stops wearing
A barrier between the upper and lower teeth. Enamel does not grow back once it has gone.
Less jaw pain, fewer headaches
It holds the jaw in a more relaxed position, so the muscles are not straining all night.
You play better with it in
Thinner and properly contoured, so talking, breathing and drinking are all still possible.
You will actually wear it
The real failure of a store-bought guard is that it sits in a drawer. A guard you barely notice is a guard you use.
It protects the work you paid for
Crowns, bridges, veneers and implants. An insurance policy on your own dental work.
Your dentist
Dr. Dave Cho, DMD
Dr. Dave Cho fits the guard to your grinding pattern and your bite, not to an average one, and checks it again after you have slept in it.
- 3Kinds of guard
- 2Visits, impression to fit
- 5Care rules that make it last
Also on the teamDr. William Sung, DMDFellow of the Academy of General DentistryLooking after it, and why patients trust this practice with it
- Rinse with cool water after each use. Never hot water — it warps the material.
- Clean it with a soft toothbrush and mild soap. Not toothpaste, which is abrasive.
- Air dry it completely before storing.
- Store it in a ventilated container.
- With good care, a guard lasts several years.
Patients trust Mason Park Dental because we explain your options clearly, personalize every mouth guard, ensure follow-up care and monitoring, and offer flexible scheduling and payment plans.
The Path
What happens, step by step.
What it is for
Sport, grinding, or the jaw joint. Which one you need changes the guard, so this comes first.
The impression
A digital or physical mould of your teeth. This is the whole difference from a boil-and-bite.
Fabrication
Made from dental-grade material to your bite, your grinding pattern and your jaw tension points.
The fitting
Checked in the mouth, adjusted where it presses, and you leave wearing it.
Start at step one.
Bring the sport, or the morning headache. Either one is enough to start the conversation.
Book an appointmentOr call (281) 769-8878
The Alternatives
How it compares.
Custom, against the one from the pharmacy.
CustomStore-bought
Moulded to your teeth and gums.One size, boiled into an approximation.
Stays where it was put.Slips, and shifts during use.
Thin enough to breathe and talk through.Bulky, and uncomfortable.
Dental-grade material, several years.Wears down quickly.
Worn, because you barely notice it.In a drawer, which protects nothing.
That last row is the honest one. A guard’s protection is entirely a function of how many nights it is in your mouth.
What grinding costs if you leave it
Bruxism is slow, which is why it is easy to ignore. The bill arrives in restorative work.
- Flattened teethShortened over years, and the shape does not come back on its own.
- Cracked teethSmall fractures that eventually need a crown, or a root canal first.
- SensitivityEnamel gone, dentine exposed, and hot and cold reaching the nerve.
- Receding gumsAnd loose fillings, from the same force.
- Jaw strainWhich becomes the TMJ disorder people come in for years later.
The Cost
What it costs, before it starts.
A guard is one of the few things on this site that is cheaper than the problem it prevents, and by a wide margin.
Years of wearWith proper care
One guard, against the restorative work that grinding produces if nothing is done.
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What moves the number
Which of the three kinds you need, and whether it is for one arch or both.
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Insurance and financing
Flexible scheduling and payment plans. See insurance and financing and the savings plan.
The Proof
What Katy patients say about being here.
I’ve been coming to this dental office ever since childhood and I always have a great experience with Gen and Dr. Cho 👍🏻 Highly recommend
Very friendly staff and were willing to help in every way! Felt more comfortable here than at any other dentist office in the past, highly recommend!
Gabriel Sanchez
Had a very good time at the dental office. The cleaning was thorough and Genevieve did an amazing job! The high tech tools made me feel at ease. It’s a calm atmosphere, which is just what anyone needs before a visit. Definitely a convenient place for dental care. Highly recommend it for anyone needing cleaning and exams.
Glenn Adrian De La Garza
Jen is the best so personable and relatable. Makes the process so smooth. Love this place!
Kristian Ball
Questions
Questions patients ask before they decide.
Is a custom guard really better than a store-bought one?
Yes, and the biggest reason is not protection but compliance. Store-bought guards are often bulky, uncomfortable, or poorly fitted; they slip, cause discomfort, and end up unused. A custom guard fits perfectly, lasts longer, protects more effectively, and is easier to wear consistently.
How do I clean it?
Rinse with cool water after each use, clean it with a soft toothbrush and mild soap, air dry it completely, and store it in a ventilated container. Avoid hot water — it warps the material. With good care a guard lasts several years.
Will it help my jaw pain?
Often. A guard gently repositions the jaw into a more relaxed state, reducing muscle strain and promoting healthier joint alignment. Many patients report a marked improvement in jaw comfort, less clicking and popping, and fewer headaches. If you have been diagnosed with a TMJ disorder, see TMJ and TMD.
Does it make sport harder?
The opposite, generally. Because custom guards are thinner and properly contoured compared with one-size-fits-all versions, they allow easier talking, breathing and hydration during play.
I only play non-contact sport. Do I need one?
Skateboarding, cycling and gymnastics all produce the same falls, and accidents happen in any of them. A guard protects without compromising performance or breathability.
The Invitation
Ask about this one.
Two visits: an impression, then a fitting. If you already come here for cleanings, the impression can happen at your next one.
- Hours
- Mon to Wed 9am to 6pm
Thu 9am to 5pm
Fri to Sun Closed - Emergencies
- Call the practice. We keep same day slots for pain, breaks and knocked out teeth.
