THE FUTURE OF SAFETY IN SPORT
SMART MOUTHGUARDS: PROTECTION COMES FIRST
What is a smart mouthguard?
A smart mouthguard, also known as an instrumented mouthguard (iMG), is a sports mouthguard with tiny sensors built inside. Every time a player is involved in contact, the sensors record how fast the head accelerates and rotates, giving medical staff and coaches objective data on head impacts in training and matches.
The technology is changing contact sport. But a smart mouthguard is still a mouthguard first, and the guard around the sensor matters as much as the sensor itself.
Smart mouthguards aren't available to buy from OPRO, but for over 30 years we've been perfecting the part that protects your teeth. This guide explains how the technology works, who needs it, and why the guard itself still matters most.
How smart mouthguards work
Inside a smart mouthguard sit three things: motion sensors that measure linear and rotational acceleration, a small rechargeable battery, and a wireless chip that sends the data to an app or a pitch-side system.
When an impact passes a set threshold, the system can flag the player for a check by a medic. It is important to be clear: a smart mouthguard measures impacts. It does not diagnose concussion, and an alert is a prompt for assessment, not a diagnosis.
Why rugby made them mandatory
World Rugby has required elite players to wear instrumented mouthguards since 2024. Players must wear one in matches to be eligible for an in-game head injury assessment, and the data helps teams manage contact load in training.
The first in-game removal triggered by a smart mouthguard came during the 2024 Men's Six Nations, and the technology is now part of everyday player welfare at the top of the game.
A smart mouthguard is still a mouthguard
Sensors can only measure what happens to your head if the guard stays locked in place, and they can only be worn safely if there is enough protective material between your teeth and the electronics. Independent dental research highlights fit, thickness and multi-layer construction as critical to both protection and data accuracy.
“As a dentist, I know a mouthguard can only protect properly if it fits properly. That's why every Instant Custom mouthguard includes our patented impression tray, helping you achieve a dentist-level fit individually moulded to your teeth.” — Dr Anthony Lovat BDS, Founder of OPRO
Made in our UK lab, Instant Custom-Fit gives you a dentist-level fit with triple-layer protection in around two minutes at home, without a dentist appointment. Whatever technology the future brings, start with a better fit and better protection.
Do you need one?
Elite players: yes. If you play at a level that uses World Rugby's head injury assessment, your team will supply an approved system.
Club, school and junior players: not yet. Smart mouthguards are still emerging below elite level, and the data is most useful when medical staff are on hand to act on it.
Every player: needs a mouthguard that fits properly, worn at every session. A mouthguard can only protect properly if it fits properly.
Better Fit. Better Protection.
OPRO mouthguards are designed by a leading sports dentist who helped shape global mouthguard safety standards, and made in the UK with over 30 years of mouthguard innovation behind them.
Trusted by over 15 million athletes worldwide and recommended by over 600 clubs and schools, OPRO is the Official Mouthguard Supplier to England Boxing, England Rugby, USA Wrestling, GB Hockey and the GAA. We're a triple King's Award winner for innovation, and every mouthguard is underwritten by a dental warranty.
Smart mouthguard FAQs
What is a smart mouthguard?
A smart mouthguard, also called an instrumented mouthguard or iMG, is a sports mouthguard with small sensors built into it. The sensors measure how quickly the head speeds up, slows down and rotates during contact, and send that data to an app or a pitch-side system.
Can a smart mouthguard detect concussion?
No. A smart mouthguard measures head impacts, not brain injury. An alert means a player should be checked by a qualified medic; it does not mean they are concussed, and a quiet sensor does not mean they are not. Always follow your sport's concussion guidance and, if in doubt, sit it out.
Are smart mouthguards mandatory in rugby?
World Rugby has required elite players to wear instrumented mouthguards since 2024, and players must wear one to be eligible for an in-game head injury assessment. They are not currently required in community, school or junior rugby, where a well-fitted standard mouthguard remains the essential piece of kit.
How much does a smart mouthguard cost?
Prices vary widely. Consumer models aimed at club players start at around £200, often with an app subscription on top, while systems used by professional teams are usually priced per squad. Whatever you choose, check the mouthguard itself fits well and is CE certified.
Does OPRO sell smart mouthguards?
Smart mouthguards aren't available to buy from OPRO. They are currently supplied to elite teams only. Our focus is the protective guard every player needs, such as our Instant Custom-Fit: a custom-fit mouthguard made in our UK lab that you mould at home in around two minutes for a dentist-level fit. Clubs and schools can contact us about team mouthguard orders.
What is the difference between a smart mouthguard and a standard mouthguard?
Both are designed to protect your teeth, gums and jaw. A smart mouthguard adds sensors, a battery and wireless electronics, which need extra space inside the guard. That makes fit, thickness and retention even more important, because the guard must protect the teeth and hold the sensors firmly in place.
Do junior or amateur players need a smart mouthguard?
Not at the moment. Smart mouthguards are still mainly used in elite sport, where medical staff are on hand to act on the data. For junior and amateur players, the most important thing is a mouthguard that fits properly and is worn at every training session and match.
PROTECTING TEAMS FOR OVER 30 YEARS
Recommended by over 600 clubs and schools and trusted by elite teams, OPRO supplies clubs, schools and squads with mouthguards built for a better fit and better protection.