Dental night guards are devices that cover your upper teeth and lower teeth. They are an FDA-approved oral appliance custom fit to your mouth and designed to relieve teeth grinding and clenching or bruxism.
The grinding and clenching of your teeth can result in headaches, jaw pain, earaches, and damage to your teeth. People who grind their teeth in their sleep, or sleep bruxism, tend to wake up with tender, sore muscles in their jaw and face and a dull headache.
A night guard is a safe and effective way to prevent damage to your teeth.
Benefits of Night Guard
Better Oral Hygiene
- Nightguards help protect your teeth from the overnight effects of nighttime teeth grinding and clenching. They can also help protect your gums from the friction caused by grinding.
Teeth Protection
Nightguards offer complete teeth protection and reduce the risk of chips, cracks, and breaks. They also help prevent teeth grinding, which is often a cause of bruxism.
Reduction of TMJ Pain
Nightguards for teeth are a great way to relieve tension in the jaw. In many TMJ cases, the muscles and joints in the jaw become inflamed. This inflammation causes pain and tension when trying to chew or open the mouth. Wearing night guards helps to reduce the TMJ pain.
When do I need a Night Guard?
If you suffer from bruxism or frequent grinding of your teeth while you sleep, you are probably a good candidate for a nightguard. Grinding your teeth puts a lot of pressure on your jaws. This pressure can lead to jaw pain, headaches, and even tooth damage. If your grinding is severe enough, you may even develop TMJ disorder.
How are Night Guards Made?
The night guard is molded to fit the patient’s teeth. It is made from hard, durable plastic. Typically, it takes two appointments to create the custom fit.
Before the guard can be fabricated, the dentist takes an impression of your teeth. This is done by placing a special material inside your mouth. The new material sets within five minutes and is then removed and used to create the plaster mold. The guard will fit comfortably over your teeth.
To find out more about the dental services offered at Harbor Dental, call (970) 377-2456 or schedule an online consultation. You can also visit Dentist Fort Collins CO at 2726 Illinois Dr. #101, Fort Collins, CO 80525.