How do moldable, store-bought mouth guards compare to custom mouth guards?

Mouth guards, whether custom or heat moldable, should be properly fitted in order to fully protect the teeth and absorb the force of any blows to the chin. Custom mouth guards have the upper hand, as they tend to last longer and provide a better fit than the dip-and-bite varieties. However, they can be expensive; if they are too expensive for your budget, heat-moldable mouth guards are perfectly acceptable. (This answer provided for NATA by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education Program.)