Dental Protection While You Sleep
Night guards are custom-fitted dental appliances that are worn over your teeth while you sleep. They are designed to prevent the effects of teeth grinding (bruxism) and jaw muscle dysfunction.
Your custom night guard acts as a barrier, preventing you from grinding your teeth while you sleep. If you suffer from temporomandibular disorder (TMD), a night guard should prevent jaw clenching and any associated pain.
If you grind your teeth at night, the constant wear can cause damage to your tooth enamel. Clenching your jaw at night can also cause pain and headaches.
If you experience a sore jaw, headaches, or tooth sensitivity when you wake up, ask your dentist if a night guard would be an ideal solution.
How Night Guards Are Made
Your dentist will first take an impression of your upper and lower teeth. The impressions are then used to make a plaster cast of your teeth. The last step of the process is for the night guard material to be moulded around the plaster cast to create the night guard.
By using this process, your night guard should be customized specifically to your teeth for a nice, snug fit that is comfortable to wear.
Signs You Need a Night Guard
A night guard may be right for you if you experience any of the following symptoms after sleeping:
- Headaches
- Shoulder & neck pain
- Jaw soreness
- Ear aches
- Tooth damage
- Inner cheek damage